Four million media tablets in 2010 will rise to 57 million in 2015

NEW YORK, USA: The high-profile launch by Apple last week of its long-rumored iPad tablet computing device highlights the real start of a new market segment for media tablets that according to analysts at ABI Research will see four million units shipped this year. By 2015, shipments are forecast to reach about 57 million annually.

“Apple’s iPad is not the first media tablet,” says senior analyst Jeff Orr. “But it does help define this new device category. The main focus of media tablets is entertainment. A tablet will not replace a laptop, netbook or mobile phone, but will remain an additional premium or luxury product for wealthy industrialized markets for at least several years.”

ABI Research defines media tablets as having a touch-screen interface, 5-11 inches in size, with Wi-Fi Internet connectivity and video and gaming capabilities. Other features are available in some media tablets.

A number of other tablets were announced at the International CES 2010. Players in this new field fall into two camps: traditional computer vendors such as Lenovo, HP, and Asus; and a number of new, smaller vendors such as ICD and Notion Ink. The vendors in the latter category are often quite small and little known, and they see this market as an entry-point. Apple is one part of the mix, says Orr, and will probably be a fairly sizeable player.

“The biggest challenge faced by the media tablet category is how they will reach the market and generate awareness among potential buyers,” Orr believes. “New entrants to this market are at a disadvantage since they lack the retail relationships and network operator agreements already built by the more mature vendors. Surprisingly, Apple may have done them a favor by raising the public profile of the whole media tablet category.”

Anticipating the takeoff of this market, ABI Research has just launched a new study, “Media Tablets” which defines the new product category, discusses market drivers and inhibitors, and provides information about distribution channels, go-to-market strategies, product pricing and availability. The report also presents information about device features, capabilities, and use cases, and provides forecasts of media tablet shipments and price bands.