Tablet shipments jump 183 percent in first quarter

Tablet computers continue to rise through the ranks, as the technology generates enthusiasm among consumers as well as enterprise users in a variety of industries. According to a June 2012 ABI Research report, the tablet market shipped 18.2 million devices in the first quarter of 2012, good for a year-over-year growth of 183 percent.

The research firm notes that Apple® and its iPad® continue to dominate the tablet market, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the devices shipped worldwide. Samsung claimed the No. 2 spot, while Research in Motion® and Lenovo® were the only other OEMs that saw tablet growth during the quarter.

One challenge that tablet makers are facing is convincing users to purchase 3G- and 4G-enabled devices. According to the report, most users seem content with their WiFi-only models, which may suggest that people are primarily using the tablets at home or in the office rather than on the road and places that don't offer WiFi.

This may change in the near future, as many carriers believe the future of tablets is in the cellular arena. According to reports, carriers are pushing manufacturers to include cellular radio hardware in their tablet models as a standard feature. If the development takes off, it could mean tablet users will need to pay for data plans and devices will become more expensive to build.