Enterprise tablet market small but growing fast

Despite the enthusiasm the devices have generated in the enterprise space, it is still somewhat rare to actually see a tablet computer in the workplace. Unlike smartphones, which are becoming more common, the tablet is still a luxury item for many professionals.

That may soon change, according to Alan Masarek, CEO of QuickOffice. Speaking at the Tab Times Tablet Strategy conference in New York, Masarek says the enterprise will account for roughly a third of tablet computer sales within the next three years.

Even as the tablet becomes more popular in the workforce, Masarek indicates that they will serve more of a complementary role, rather than act as a primary computing device. According to PC Magazine, Masarek describes the applications run on tablets as "snacks" rather than "meals."

Nevertheless, he still expects tablets will have a game-changing effect on the workplace, allowing for more mobility, flexibility and productivity.

According to an April 2012 report from advertising firm Vertic, enterprise tablet shipments will increase 50 percent in 2012. Such trends led the firm to declare 2012 to be the "year of the enterprise tablet."