Technology research firm Gartner, Inc., US, has released a report, according to which, worldwide media tablet sales to end users are forecast to total 118.9 million units in 2012. This is a 98 percent increase from 2011 sales of 60 million units.
Gartner's detailed market forecast data is available in the report, ‘Forecast: Media Tablets by Operating System, Worldwide, 2010-2016, 1Q12 Update.’ The report is available on Gartner's website at http://my.gartner.com/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=260&mode=2&PageID=3460702&resId=1952715&ref=QuickSearch&sthkw=milanesi.
Apple's iOS continues to be the dominant media tablet operating system (OS), as it is projected to account for 61.4 percent of worldwide media tablet sales to end users in 2012. Despite the arrival of Microsoft-based devices to this market, and the expected international rollout of the Kindle Fire, Apple will continue to be the market leader through the forecast period, it is predicted.
Microsoft tablets are projected to account for 4.1 percent of media tablet sales this year, and grow to 11.8 percent of sales by the end of 2016. Windows 8 is Microsoft's official entrance into the media tablet market.
Gartner analysts said enterprise sales of media tablets would account for about 35 percent of total tablet sales in 2015. These sales will not be clearly defined as enterprise purchases. Gartner expects enterprises to allow tablets as part of their buy your own device (BYOD) programme. More of these tablets will be owned by consumers who use them at work.
Android tablets are forecast to account for 31.9 percent of media tablet sales in 2012. Gartner analysts said the main issue with Android tablets had been the lack of applications that were dedicated to tablets and therefore took advantage of their capabilities. Gartner's consumer survey data shows that consumers are running many of their apps on their mobile phones and their tablets.
Another special report from the Gartner stable, ‘iPad and Beyond: The Future of the Tablet Market,’ provides insight into what consumers, enterprises and vendors can expect as the market continues to unfold. More than 20 reports examine the tablet marketplace, as well as video commentary. The Special Report is available at http://www.gartner.com/technology/research/ipad-media-tablet/future-of-tablet-market.jsp.
