The huge success of Apple’s iPad, and now Google’s Android enabled tablets has now sparked speculations on who will be the major player in the market this year. Market analysts indicate that Android run tablets are giving Apple’s iPad a run for its money. Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS were already in race last year, which seems to have intensified further. Since its launch, about 14.8 m units of Apple’s iPads have been sold. But increasing competition from Google’s Android based – tablets like the Galaxy Tab (from Samsung) and Streak (from Dell) has come down hard on Apple’s sales this year. It is foreseen that the competition will further increase when Samsung’s galaxy tab and Motorola Xoom will be released. Apple, being a market leader in tablets until now, seems to have geared up to meet the challenges.
At first, iPhone Verizon rivaled android phones, followed by Android based tablets taking over the iPad. This face-off will also impact other competitors in the market. Going by the market analysts, Android run tablet’s market shares had increased significantly in the fourth quarter as compared to the third one last year. The increase in sales left Apple’s iPad behind. Global tablet shipments of the Android enabled tablets increased from 2.3% in the third quarter to 22% in the fourth in 2010.
Pricing strategies also impact sales significantly. More and more users seem to prefer android-based tablets, manufactured by Motorola, Dell and Samsung, which are less pricey than iPads. This price sensitivity between the new entrants in the market and the well-established iPad also indicates that Apple’s iPad may have tough days ahead. However, while Google has not opened its own stores, Apple’s stunning distribution network supported by big retailers, along with its own stores may downplay the new competitors and ensure a good market share.
Based on Android’s overwhelming success in the Smartphone category, industry experts speculate the same in the tablet market. Both Apple’s iPad and Google’s Android will have a taste of success this year, but as to who will have a bigger market share, cannot be bet upon yet. Let them bite each other; and will try to creep in between…..
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