Combined tablet and e-reader semiconductor opportunity to approach $16 billion in 2015

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Tablet and E-Reader Market Analysis: E-Readers Make Way for Tablets as Worldwide Shipments Take Off" report to its offering.

As the second half of 2011 approaches, major consumer electronics companies like Samsung, Motorola, BlackBerry, LG, and HTC have launched tablets; and this increased competition is driving tablet prices down, helping to fuel tablet adoption. However, the growing popularity of tablets is leaving many to question the viability of the e-reader market's sustainability. A few of the questions In-Stat's latest research strives to answer are:

What factors are driving tablet shipments to outpace e-reader shipments by the end of this year?
Will there be continued demand for e-readers? Why or why not?
How can e-reader OEMs demonstrate to current and future tablet owners that e-readers still offer a valuable experience?

Many predicted the demise of the e-reader market when Apple launched the iPad, igniting the tablet market frenzy. While the tablet market's growth has had some impact on expected e-reader shipments worldwide, the two devices are inherently different. Each device segment targets a different type of consumer.

Standalone e-readers target avid readers to whom the reading experience is central, while tablets are targeted towards those consumers who prefer a richer multimedia consumption experience. New research by In-Stat is forecasting that the combined semiconductor opportunity for tablets and e-readers will approach $16 billion by 2015.

Additional market and survey data findings include:
* In 2012, over 15 million e-readers will ship in the US.
* Over 60 percent of future tablet purchasers plan to buy a tablet equipped with both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity.
* By 2015, 15 percent of all tablet shipments are expected to go into business markets.