By June 2010, the internet will be used more by the European market than television is, in news that may be of interest to small businesses in IT.

In the report for Microsoft, it was understood that web consumption next year will average 14.2 hours a week, while TV will drop to 11.5 hours a week due to shifts in availability of technology and an increasingly knowledgeable audience, which is savvy in internet practices.

Microsoft noted that dedicated broadband connections are also driving the changes in attitude, with mobile platforms also giving people a much wider access to data.

The report stated: "While today the experience is fragmented across multiple media devices and environments - from the living room television to the bedroom PC to the portable music player and mobile phone - in [the] future, software will enable connected, integrated entertainment experiences."

This week, the BBC launched its Live TV application for mobile phones, which allows people to watch live TV through Wi-Fi-based mobiles.

A recent Connect survey found that the two major concerns about outsourcing services like IT support were 'loss of control' (56 per cent) and 'budget over-runs' (43 per cent).