Despite first quarter lag, tablet forecast remains strong

Market research firms are showing little, if any, concern despite a slower than expected first quarter in the tablet market. Research organizations including IDC and In-Stat are standing by their optimistic forecasts.

IDC's latest report confirms that tablet shipments fell 28 percent during the first quarter of 2011. But a variety of possible qualifiers are suggested.

"Although media tablet sales were not as high as expected due to slower consumer demand, overall economic conditions, and supply chain constraints, we believe with the entrance of competitive new devices in the second half of 2011, the market will sell close to 53 million units," said Jennifer Song, IDC research analyst.

A separate report from In-Stat offers a long-term perspective, suggesting that global tablet app downloads may climb from just under 1 billion in 2011 to 11 billion in 2015.

Sales from the first quarter seem to reflect a stumble more than a fall, but manufacturers should still take note. As early hype for the technology fades away, vendors need to ensure substance and quality are at the heart of their offerings. Competition in the mobile computing market will remain strong, both between brands and between devices.