The growing success of tablets is leaving many to question the viability of the
e-reader market’s sustainability.
E-readers still offer the truest reading experience and
appeal most to avid readers, but a broader market of consumers are demanding
multimedia functionality, like web browsing, video and gaming, in their next
mobile device.
Tablets, like the Apple iPad, are optimized to deliver
this kind of multifunction experience, and therefore, represent a stronger
opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers alike.
According to In-Stat, tablet
shipments will outpace e-reader shipments by the end of this year.
Out of 1,000 US respondents to In-Stat’s latest end-user survey, 38 percent own
a tablet as compared to the 26 percent who own an e-reader.
Over 60 percent of future tablet purchasers plan to buy a
tablet equipped with both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity.
“Of the two, the tablet market is the stronger and
more sustainable opportunity. In fact, e-reader manufacturers will soon begin
adding tablet-like devices to their lineups in order to take advantage of the
tablet frenzy. Barnes & Noble already offers the Color Nook, which is often
compared to a tablet, and Amazon, the leader in the e-reader space with its
Kindle, will likely launch a tablet device later this year in an effort to
compete head-to-head with the iPad,” said Stephanie Ethier, senior
analyst, In-Stat.
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
