HELSINKI, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Companies will buy more than 10
million tablet computers this year, consultancy Deloitte said on
Tuesday supporting recent research from Gartner which sees the
global market for Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad, rising to 55 million
devices this year from 19.5 million in 2010.
"Although some commentators view tablets as underpowered
media-consumption toys suitable only for consumers… in 2011,
more than 25 percent of all tablet computers will be bought by
enterprises and that figure is likely to rise in 2012 and
beyond," Deloitte said in its annual sector forecast.
That could open the market for Research in Motion’s (TO:RIM)
7-inch PlayBook tablet, set to launch in February or March, which
received positive early reviews after the company offered
hands-on demos earlier this month at CES trade show.
Deloitte said healthcare and retail sectors alone could
purchase some 5 million tablets this year.
The surge of tablet market, coupled with strong growth of
smartphone sales means in 2011, for the first time, sales of
personal computers will represent less than half of total
computing device market, Deloitte said.
"2011 marks the tipping point," it said.
Deloitte forecast for smartphone sales to reach 375 million
devices in 2011 and tablet market to reach 50 million. Combined
sales of desktops, laptops and netbooks would be 390 million
devices, it said.
(Editing by Mike Nesbit)