After Amazon launched its $199 Kindle Fire
tablet last autumn, a lot of observers thought it could prove to be the
competition to Apple’s iPad that other Android tablets had so far failed to
deliver. Some numbers out from IDC today, however, show that as Amazon continues
to sell the device in the U.S. alone, that has failed to become the case, as
Apple continues to increase its worldwide market share against competitors.
After a a IDC “sluggish” Q1, IDC said that
Amazon rebounded this quarter with estimated shipments of 1.3 million
units, enough to give it a number-three ranking after Samsung’s 2.4 million
sales worldwide, and putting it ahead of other companies that also sell
globally, Asus and Acer — signs that seem to indicate that if Amazon had rolled
out the tablet more widely, it might have made significant headway.
Another is the fact that we may well see a
bigger tablet from Amazon, a smaller tablet from Apple, and Windows 8 tablets
enter the market. “In addition to major new products from Amazon and quite
likely Apple, we can also expect an influx of Microsoft Windows 8 and Windows
RT-based tablets starting in late October,” writes Bob O’Donnell, IDC vice
president for clients and displays.