According to Gartner 2012 WW tablet sales will grow by 98% Y-o-Y to total 118.9m, as the Apple iPad continues dominating the market.
In comparison 2011 tablet sales total 20m units.
The analyst projects iPad global market share will reach 61.4% in 2012-- with non-Apple vendors finding limited success in the market, despite the international Amazon Kindle Fire launch.
Making things worse for the competition is Apple resetting "the benchmark for the product to beat" with the new iPad.
What are non-Apple vendors to do? Gartner believes many are waiting for the Windows 8 release with hopes the Microsoft brand will help capture both consumer and enterprise markets-- estimating Microsoft tablets will account for 4.1% of 2012 tablet sales, before growing to 11.8% by 2016.
Meanwhile Android tablets will account for 31.9% of 2012 tablet sales, even if device sales are still hampered due to the lack of dedicated Android tablet apps.
Windows tablets are particularly attractive for enterprise markets-- both IT departments and suppliers are familiar with the OS. Gartner predicts enterprise markets will account for around 35% tablet sales in 2015, even if many workplaces will also operate BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies.
