MUMBAI: The popularity and anticipated growth in the tablet market has set the portable consumer device world in a global tizzy, or so it would seem. However, new In-Stat research indicates that this tablet frenzy isn’t quite as global as one would think as only three regions - North America, Asia/Pacific, and Western Europe - will be responsible for 91 per cent of all tablet unit shipments in 2015.
 
In-Stat senior analyst Stephanie Ethier said, “There is obviously strong potential for tablets, as there has been with other mobile electronic devices. One key difference, however, is that the commercial market also represents a potential revenue opportunity for tablet OEMs. Usage models and user requirements will differ in the commercial market, but as the overall tablet market becomes more defined, the opportunities for tablets within business markets will become more apparent.” 
 
Recent research findings include:

- At over 129 billion units, portable media players (PMPs) represented the largest number of portable device units shipped in 2010.

- The e-reader market will remain primarily a North American market, with 58 per cent of e-reader units shipped into the US in 2015.

- Personal navigation device (PND) shipments will peak in 2012 and then decline steadily over the remaining forecast period.

- Handheld game console shipments will grow approximately 20 per cent over the next year as a result of the Nintendo 3DS launch.