Strategy Analytics has some worrying news for Apple and its tablet biz: Android is picking up pace and gaining market share, through its huge number of slates. In the fourth quarter of 2010 the Android slate market share increased tenfold, decreasing the iPad’s total dominance.
In the three months to December 31, Google OS-based devices stood for 22% of the global slate shipments, up from 2.3% in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the iPad got 75% of the shipments, quite a decrease from 96%. Apple’s product sold over 14.7 million units since its April launch, but the competition is increasing, as the new devices made by Samsung, Motorola and Acer threaten it.
According to Neil Mawston, Strategy Analytics director, it was the Galaxy Tab driving the Android sales, but we’re also expecting the Motorola Xoom and LG G-Slate to make a good impression in 2011. Market researcher iSuppli predicts 57 million tablets will be sold this year.
