It's a tough tablet market for devices lacking an "i" before their names. So much so, that Apple doesn't even need to release an updated version of its iPad in order to continue its reign as the tablet market leader.
That's part of the latest research update from J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz, who has been busy chatting up industry insiders in order to develop his new iPad prediction: No iPad 3, iPad 2 HD, or any derivative thereof until 2012.
"In recent months, there has been rising investor speculation that a new iPad 3 would be launched for the holiday season. Our latest research continues to indicate that there is no such device slated for production this year," wrote Moskowitz. "In our view, Apple should be in no rush. The other tablet entrants have stumbled so far, and that trend-line could persist deep into 2012. MMI and RIM have been recent disappointments, and we expect more stumbles from others."
The news should come as no surprise to those paying attention to Moskowitz's projections as of late. Just last week, we reported Moskowitz's suggestion that the iPad is going to continue dominating the market until Windows 8 hits the market. He's predicting a 62.8 percent market share for Apple's tablets by the end of 2012.
According to recent figures released by the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple's iPad 2 shipped 9.3 million units in the second quarter, hitting a worldwide market share of 68.3 percent. That's a growth of just around three percent from the quarter prior, balanced out on the other end by a nearly eight percent loss in market share for Android-based tablets.
IDC, however, remains a bit more skeptical than Moskowitz as to Apple's ability to carry the market for that much longer.
"Apple's iOS share will continue to lead by more than 40 percentage points over Google's Android for the remainder of the year, but we expect Apple's share to fall closer to 50% by the end of the forecast period as manufacturers bring new tablets to market," said IDC research analyst Jennifer Song.
With supply chain manufactures ramping up production of 10.1-inch glass frames to approximately 10 million units per month, a typical Android tablet size (versus the iPad's 9.7-inch display), there's talk that the market is in for an onslaught of Android tablets come the holiday season.
IDC projects that the market share for Android tablets will only grow to 25.9 percent by the end of 2011. However, an influx of tablets from manufacturers old and new – including Amazon, widely seen as one of the bigger potential competitors to Apple's iPad – could clear room for some additional Android wins if coupled with a bit of strategic, HP TouchPad-style pricing against Apple's pricier 'pads.
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