iPad shipments set to rise beyond previous growth expectations

Apple Inc. is expected to increase its iPad shipments at a rapid clip, according to IHS iSuppli. Tablet shipments are expected to rise to 60 million units worldwide in 2011, marking a 245.9% jump from 17.4 million in 2010, the firm calculated.
At the time of its previous forecast in May, the firm predicted shipments of 58.9 million this year. The new projection, however, is expected to drive shipments to 275.3 million units in 2015. And yet, Apple controls a lion’s share of the market. The company is on track to ship 44.2 million iPads by year end and in 2015 the firm still expects Apple to maintain a significant share of the market with 120.1 million units.
If those numbers stick, Apple will account for 74% of the tablet market this year and 43.6% of the market in 2015
“All the momentum in the media tablet market is with Apple right now,” said Rhoda Alexander, senior manager of tablet and monitor research at IHS. “The competition can’t seem to field a product with the right combination of hardware, marketing, applications and content to match up with the iPad. Furthermore, Apple’s patent litigation is serving to slow or complicate competitors’ entry into some key regional markets. With Apple lapping its competitors, many of whom are still struggling to get out of the starting gate, this remains a one-horse race.”