Apple is leading the worldwide media tablet shipments in
Q3 2011. The company shipped 11.1 million units in Q3 2011, up from 9.3 million
units in Q2 2011.

Apple’s tablet market share reduced to 61.5 percent in Q3
from 63.3 percent in Q2 2011.

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, an
improving Android OS experience and lower competitor pricing in an environment
with worldwide economic concerns should help Android to increase its market
share.

HP TouchPad shipped 903,354 units to grab a 5 percent
share of the worldwide market, number three behind Samsung’s 5.6 percent market
share.

Barnes & Noble shipped 805,458 units to achieve the
number four spot with a 4.5 percent market share. ASUS rounded out the top five
with a 4 percent share.

“Amazon and Barnes & Noble are shaking up the
media tablet market, and their success helps prove that there is an appetite
for media tablets beyond Apple’s iPad,” said Tom Mainelli, research
director, Mobile Connected Devices.

“That said, I fully expect Apple to have its
best-ever quarter in 4Q11, and 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,” Mainelli added.

Worldwide media tablet shipments into sales channels rose
by 23.9 percent on a sequential basis in the third calendar quarter of 2011
(3Q11) to 18.1 million units, according to IDC. That represents an increase of
264.5 percent from the same quarter last year, but 5.8 percent below the
original forecast of 19.2 million units.

Despite these slightly lower-than-expected shipments in
3Q11, IDC sees strong demand in 4Q11 and has increased its worldwide shipment
forecast for 2011 to 63.3 million units, up from a previous projection of 62.5
million units.

By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]