When Apple launched the iPad in April 2010, it was really the first major tablet to hit the market. We had seen others before based on Microsoft that were generally convertible tablets. What we hear today is that in the 3rd quarter of 2010, the Apple iPad accounted for 92% of the tablet market. This particular number gives a good hint at what competition was out there… not much to be fair.
2011 is going to be a little different though. Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb rolled out today on the Motorola Xoom and there are a number of large manufacturers launching Android based tablets over the coming months. As well as many Android tablets, the BlackBerry Playbook is launching soon along with the HP TouchPad.
Although we expect Apple will continue to sell a good number of tablets, we are sure they wont account for 92% again like they did in the 3rd quarter of last year.
If you want to know how many tablets that 92% accounts for, suggestions hint that 4.5 million in total sold in the 3rd quarter with 4.2 million of them being the iPad.
Apple of course, has the iPad 2 being announced next week which will strengthen the competition again, but we still believe there is space for Android tablets, webOS tablets and the QNX based PlayBook.
Via: SlashGear
That’s almost funny, because within a few years, they will be down to under 5% where their computer market share has been for the last couple decades. It was huge at first too. How it ends is way more important that how it starts.