Tablet shipments rise faster than expected

FRUIT THEMED TOY MAKER Apple will increase its tablet shipments at a faster rate than had been expected this year, according to data from IHS Isuppli.

Overall, IHS expects global tablet shipments to rise more than expected to 60 million units in 2011, up 246 per cent from 17.4 million in 2010. In May, its previous forecast estimated that tablet shipments would rise to 58.9 million in 2011.

The revised figures will help raise the number of projected tablet shipments to 275.3 million in 2015, compared with a previous forecast of 262.1 million.

IHS said Apple will ship 44 million Ipads in 2011, up from a previous forecast of 43.7 million. It expects Apple's Ipad shipments to reach 120.1 million in 2015.

Apple is expected to account for 74 per cent of media tablet shipments in 2011 and 43.6 per cent in 2015.

IHS added that makers of tablets using Android and other operating systems are encountering "slower-than-expected sales" and facing challenges including lagging development of content and applications for their products.

"All the momentum in the media tablet market is with Apple right now," said Rhoda Alexander, of HIS. "The competition can't seem to field a product with the right combination of hardware, marketing, applications and content to match up with the iPad.

"Furthermore, Apple's patent litigation is serving to slow or complicate competitors' entry into some key regional markets. With Apple lapping its competitors, many of whom are still struggling to get out of the starting gate, this remains a one-horse race." µ