The dominance of iOS will be challenged later this year as Android
hurdles toward becoming the most-used mobile operating system on
tablets, according to IDC.
The researcher has updated its forecast to reflect the surging interest
in slates such as the Nexus 7 that are smaller and cheaper than Apple's
iPads, with the latest data projecting shipments of 190.9 million units
in 2013, up from the previously expected 172.4 million.
The group notes that half of the tablets shipped this quarter had
screens smaller than eight inches. IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani believes
this suggests that consumers are realizing smaller slates are often
better suited for typical usage than the larger options. Vendors are
reportedly racing to meet that demand and most of them will offer
Android devices, which should allow Google's platform to overtake iOS
before the year is up.
Android tablets captured a healthy slice of the market in 2012 and its
share is due to reach 48.8% in 2013, up from 41.5% in IDC's previous
forecast. When that happens, iOS will purportedly slip from 51% of the
market in 2012 to 46% in 2013. And while Android is chipping away at
iOS, IDC says Windows will be nipping at both their ankles as it's
expected to grow from 1% of the market last year to 7.4% in 2017. The
researcher doesn't have high hopes for Windows RT, however, as its
growth is estimated to remain below 3% over the next five years.
"Microsoft's decision to push two different tablet operating systems,
Windows 8 and Windows RT, has yielded poor results in the market so
far," said analyst Tom Mainelli. "Consumers aren't buying Windows RT's
value proposition, and long term we think Microsoft and its partners
would be better served by focusing their attention on improving Windows
8. Such a focus could drive better share growth in the tablet category
down the road."
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