IDC expects Android to continue to grow its share of the
market at the expense of iOS.
“As the sole vendor shipping iOS products, Apple
will remain dominant in terms of worldwide vendor unit shipments. However, the
sheer number of vendors shipping low-priced, Android-based tablets means that
Google’s OS will overtake Apple’s in terms of worldwide market share by 2015.
We expect iOS to remain the revenue market share leader through the end of our
2016 forecast period and beyond,” said Tom Mainelli, research director,
Mobile Connected Devices, IDC.
Global media tablet shipments increased 155 percent in Q4
2011 to 28.2 million units from Q4 2010. The market experienced
stronger-than-expected growth across many regions and at many price points,
leading to a full-year 2011 total of 68.7 million units. IDC has increased its
2012 forecast to 106.1 million units, up from its previous forecast of 87.7
million units.
According to IDC, despite the strong growth of media
tablet shipments, ePaper-based eReaders also experienced stronger-than-expected
growth in the fourth quarter. That growth occurred thanks to sharp price cuts
in established markets such as the U.S. and Canada, as well as increasing
shipments in regions outside of North America.
In Q4 the worldwide total increased to 10.7 million
units, up from 6.5 million units in Q3. That represents a quarter-over-quarter
improvement of 64.6 percent and a year-over-year improvement of 64.3 percent.
IDC expects growth to continue in 2012 as major players such as Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, and Kobo look to expand into new international markets.
