Apple iPad close to 60 per cent of worldwide tablet PC market share

Despite missing Q3 sales forecasts, it is predicted more than 60 million tablet PCs will have shipped worldwide by the end of 2011 - with well over half of them being Apple iPads.

According to IDC’s ‘Media Tablet and eReader Tracker’ there will be a strong demand for tablets this quarter, pushing shipments to a predicted 63.3 million units. 

Close to 60 per cent of these are said to be Apple iPads, with the majority of the rest being powered by various incarnations of the Android operating system.

The Android market share make-up is a real mixture, with the likes of tablet PCs from Samsung and Asus mixing with cheap-end Android powered eReaders from the likes of Barnes & Noble and (in Q4) Amazon.

Interestingly, IDC’s research director for mobile connected devices is predicting another year at the top for Apple. He said: “In 2012 I think we'll see Apple's product begin to gain more traction outside of the consumer market, specifically with enterprise and education markets.

“Apple's larger portfolio of tablet-specific apps, upcoming iPad versions, and growing physical store presence in key emerging markets like Asia/Pacific will help maintain its global leadership.”
However, he also acknowledged the “improving Android OS experience”, as well as cheap and ever more flexible eReaders “shaking up the market”.

The likes of Samsung and HTC, via the Android OS, were quick to make-up market share on Apple in the smartphone arena – an area where Apple was also helped dramatically by both Microsoft and Nokia shooting themselves in the foot with badly received products. It is unlikely Samsung, amazon and co will make similar mistakes with their tablet PCs and eReaders.