IHS iSuppli increases iPad sales estimates

Research firm IHS iSuppli increased their sales forecast yesterday for the iPad family in response to Apple’s decreasing supply issues and the fall of HP’s TouchPad.

“Apple has resolved the iPad supply issues,” said iSuppli representative Rhoda Alexander. “All the momentum in the media tablet market is with Apple right now.”

The research firm bumped its 2011 iPad forecast from an initial estimate of 43.7 million units to 44.2 million, while overall tablet sales for the year was increased from 58.9 million to 60 million. As a result, iPad sales are expected to make up 500,000 units out of the 1.1 million unit increase in tablets sold.

According to Alexander, Apple is apparently showing no signs of falter with its tablet products and is even calling the tablet market a “one-horse race.” “They’ve taken every lesson they’ve learned with previous products and applied them to the iPad,” said Alexander. “Their whole production process is a marvel to watch.”

Alexander also commented on the legal disputes involving Apple, which are indeed slowing down competitors from launching their respective devices into certain markets. The firm is now predicting a similar market share for the iPad in 2013.

By 2014, however, iSuppli sees the iPad momentum weakening as Windows 8 and other rival tablets begin to solidify. The possibility of lower and competitive prices is predicted to be a huge factor as well. Alexander used the rise of Android smartphones as what is to come for the tablet market.  Regardless, the research firm still sees the iPad making up an impressive 44 percent of all tablet shipments in 2015.

Source(s)