4.5 Million Media Tablets Shipped in 3Q-2010

The shipment, price and revenue data for media tablets, eBook readers and netbooks are in for the third quarter of 2010. Published in ABI Research’s “Netbooks, MIDs, Media Tablets, and Mobile CE Market Data,” they show that media tablets were indeed the “promising new talent” they appeared to be: some 4.5 million of the fashionable devices shipped during the quarter.

Of those, about 93% were Apple iPads. Senior practice director Jeff Orr notes that, “Over time, Apple’s first-to-market iPad advantage will inevitably erode to some extent. ABI Research has been tracking media tablets since December 2009; future quarterly editions of this Market Data product will include market share tracking of all the major media tablet vendors.”

eBooks

eBook reader vendors continued to do well in their market, bringing new products to consumers in time for the 2010 holiday shopping season. “The US continues to be the leading market for eBook readers,” says Orr, “and the three top vendors, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony, are comfortably maintaining their top positions in it.”

Barnes & Noble introduced a color version of its Nook reader – the first color model from a leading vendor – while Amazon debuted a third-generation Kindle. Along with their new capabilities, these products also introduced lower MSRPs than earlier generations of devices.

Netbooks

The first half of 2010 was slow for netbooks, as relatively few new products were introduced. However, Orr points out, “The third quarter saw PC OEMs again breathe life into the segment by introducing new platforms that offered dual-core processors, and lighter/thinner devices with significantly better performance, sleek styling, and visual appeal.”

ABI Research’s “Netbooks, MIDs, Media Tablets, and Mobile CE Market Data” includes forecasts for all Ultra-mobile Devices (UMDs) including media tablets, netbooks, UMPCs, mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and mobile broadband-enabled consumer electronics (CE) devices. Shipments, ASPs, and revenue for these devices are provided, including shipments and revenues for each type of UMD by region, platform, operating system, and connectivity attach rates.

It forms part of the Netbooks, MIDs and Mobile CE Research Service which also includes another Market Data product, Research Reports, Research Briefs, ABI Insights, ABI Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 29 research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.