There’s no doubt at all that, right now, Apple is dominating the world of tablets. The iPad remains stronger on its own than all the Android OS powered tablets that have hit the market, and there are more than a few. The iPad 2, despite being nothing more than a display case, even managed to get nearly as much attention as Android’s upcoming Honeycomb! However, the market is slowly changing as tablet ownership figures are trickling toward Android. According to analysts, Google will be running the tablet market — just give them four years to do it.
According to eMoney Daily, the technology analysts over at Ovum have stated that Google will become dominant by 2015, but they’ll do it with only a 36% market share. The analysts are predicting that, by that time, 36% will be the lead number, above figures for Apple (which they say will be around 35% in 2015).
Considering that Mac held a full 90% of the market throughout 2010, this can seem a little bit hard to swallow. Ovum may be assuming that Microsoft will also step into gear and take their 30% or so of the market within the next few years. It seems somewhat preemptive to be giving Microsoft that much credit, however, as their products haven’t even launched yet (although they admittedly got more than your typical amount of applause during their CES presentation).
Regardless of what analysts are projecting for this market, it remains a field that should be labeled with a massive “TBD.” Google’s Honeycomb may just sweep the market, or it may be beat by the next iOS. Microsoft may leap over the hurdles set by competitors, or they may slam head-first into them. We will, however, know much more about the tablet battle by the end of 2011.
