Despite a raft of high profile launches, there haven’t really been any serious contenders to the iPad crown to date.
A recent report published by Forrester finds that the more engaging user experience, portability and screen size offered by tablets makes them better suited to mobile commerce that smart phones or similar devices. So why haven’t these launches reflected a challenge to Apple?
In short, many of the potential suitors to the Apple crown have proved too expensive. The iPad is accepted as the industry leader, with the most available apps and the ‘slickest’ user experience. With no real price incentive, people are more inclined to grow the ranks of iPad owners.
The recent demand for the HP Touchpad, following huge price reductions, demonstrates that people are ready for an iPad alternative – if the price is seductive enough.
Amazon may have cottoned on to this and, if rumours are true, plan to bring a tablet to market in the next few weeks for around $250. With the world’s largest online retailer behind it, an Amazon tablet could well become a major platform in the tablet space.
Tablets were the main focus of the recent IFA 2011 in Germany which demonstrates just how important the format is becoming. If Amazon deliver rich content and an engaging user experience at a desirable price point, they could take a significant share of the market.
So what does this mean to our clients?
If you’re planning an iPad app, bear in mind that it isn’t the only tablet platform. In our opinion Apple will continue to be the premium ‘player’, but to exclude other platforms could mean ignoring a significant portion of your audience.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on developments and will keep you informed as things arise.
