Tablet sales to hit 60 million in 2011

When it's all said and done, 2011 may go down as the Year of the Tablet. While the device was introduced in 2010, this year may be remembered as the one in which tablets made their stamp.

Figures from research firm IHS iSuppli estimate that 60 million tablets will be sold in 2011, up from 17.4 million in 2010. This is also up from the market analyst's May 2011 estimate, which projected 58.9 million tablets to be sold this year.

Several factors have contributed to the tablet's growth this year. Beyond the hype surrounding the device, IHS notes that the tablet's expansion to China and other developing countries has contributed to its gains. Additionally, the launch of tablets from myriad manufacturers has increased competition in the market and given consumers a wider selection of devices.

IHS predicts a favorable fourth quarter for the tablet, which is sure to be a hot-ticket item during the holiday season. Further out, IHS estimates that 275.3 million tablets will ship in 2015.

An earlier IHS study pegs tablets as the leading internet-enabled consumer device for 2011. Excluding PCs and smartphones, tablets outsell all other internet-enabled devices, including gaming consoles and televisions.