Sales of smartbooks are expected to rapidly grow from 3.65 million in 2010 to nearly 50 million in 2014, representing over 50 percent of all embedded device sales, according to projections from research firm Informa Telecoms & Media. Also, it is projected that multifunctional portable devices like the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab are likely to surpass sales of dedicated e-readers. These devices are seen to combine the best features of smartphones and netbooks.
Price cuts by Amazon and Barnes & Noble have also taken their toll on the e-reader market. The list of e-reader makers who have been experiencing problems has grown recently and include many smaller players like Skiff, iRex and Plastic Logic. Informa expects mobile broadband e-reader sales will peak at 14 million units in 2013, before falling by 7 percent in 2014 as the segment faces increased competition from a wide range of consumer electronic devices including cheaper non-connected models, like the Kobo and new Kindle WiFi.
According to David McQueen, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, pricing will be crucial to stimulate demand as will customer choice and competition, which is being driven by a number of leading device vendors now readying themselves for the launch of more smartbooks.
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