WebProNews

Internet usage in China, the second largest Web market in the world, grew by over 18 percent during the past year to a total 103 million web surfers, according to China Daily. That represents an increase of 9 million people overall.

While over a 100 million net savvy people is an impressive number, that is still less than 10 percent of the 1.3 billion Chinese population. Continual Internet growth in China could make the communist country the most attractive burgeoning online market place in the world.

"While more than 67 percent of the U.S. population, about 135 million, have access to the Internet, in China the percentage is only about 7.9 percent," according to information released by the China Internet Network Information Center.

If the trend continues, the state media predicts that the number of Chinese connected to the Internet by the end of the year will reach 120 million.

The Chinese spent an estimated $1.23 billion online in 2005. This number generated from only 20 percent of the total of China's web surfers.

"Most of China's Internet users are well educated and have hefty purchasing power," analyst Lu Weigang was quoted as saying.

This suggests that access is still limited to the wealthiest of communist citizens.

Another explosive market in China is the online gaming industry. Gamers spent 4 billion yuan ($483 million) on virtual equipment in the first half of 2005.

Jason L. Miller is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.