Apple has 95 percent of tablet market: Strategy Analytics

Reuters ^ | Tue Nov 2, 2010 7:59am EDT

[Swordmaker]

Apple controlled 95 percent of the emerging market for tablet computers with its iPads in the July-to-September quarter, research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) said on Tuesday.

The competition in the market is, however, tightening fast with handset vendors and PC makers moving into the new category of devices, between traditional PCs and smartphones, taking a cue from the success the iPad, a 10-inch touchscreen tablet that began selling in April.

The total market grew to 4.4 million tablets in the September quarter from 3.5 million in the previous quarter, the researcher said.

"The tablet wars are up and running. Apple has quickly leveraged its famous brand, an extensive retail presence and user-friendly design to develop the tablet segment into a multi-billion-dollar global business," said SA analyst Neil Mawston.

Mawston said the other platforms -- Android, Microsoft, MeeGo of Nokia and Intel, Hewlett-Packard's webOS and RIM's Blackberry -- have already much ground to make up.

[dayglored]

Exactly. Both points you made, right on the mark.

[Mr. Blonde]

I think if you actually look at the numbers you will find that Android is doing damage especially to RIM and WinMo (before the new version comes out). Apple is continuing to sell more and more phones which doesn’t seem like what would happen if they were being destroyed.