Tablets having dramatic impact on mobile space

The 2012 Mobile Future in Focus report from market research firm comScore reveals that the dramatic impact tablet computers had on the mobile industry in 2011 will continue for years to come.

At the end of last year, research shows, there were more than 40 million U.S. mobile subscribers who owned tablets. That was just two years after the modern market was created. According to comScore, it took smartphones seven years to reach 40 million users.

"Tablets are taking their place as the fourth screen in consumers' lives, joining TV, PCs and smartphones as the gateway to digital media consumption," comScore's report states. "Tablet adoption rapidly ascended in the past year, fueled by a growing number of devices coming to market, which created a wide variety of options available for today's tablet consumer."

Moving forward, the report notes, consumers can expect the release of more devices carrying lower price tags. That's because it has become evident that cost is now a key differentiator in the tablet market.

Growth for the tablet market was also reflected in a report from BI Intelligence, which shows that tablet sales should surpass 500 million units in 2015.