Users want more tablet PCs

Wellingborough, U.K.— Users of rugged mobile computers expect their consumption of tablet PCs to significantly increase over the next three years, according to a new study by IMS Research . The firm’s most recent survey confirms the trend that tablet PCs are becoming more widely accepted in the rugged, mobile computer market. IMS surveyed companies that purchase rugged, mobile computers and found that 17.6% expect to buy tablet PCs within three years, which IMS reports is a significant increase compared to current market penetration.

Although the tablet PC market is presently considered to be only a small piece of the overall mobile PC pie, IMS predicts strong growth in the transportation, retail, warehousing and distribution sectors, where tablets will likely take business away from the more established rugged, handheld PC market. IMS adds that this trend is driven by larger display and processing power requirements, and a need for more detailed information in remote areas. IMS projects the tablet PC market will experience substantial growth, with a 37.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period, reaching 93.6 million euros by 2007.

“Tablet PCs are a versatile alternative to rugged handheld and vehicle-fixed PC solutions. The nature of these products means that they can be used in both handheld and vehicle-fixed applica-tions. The driver of a vehicle may choose to remove the unit from a fixed cradle to perform a task away from its usual position,” says Tim Dawson, IMS Research’s analyst and report author. “Larger display sizes and greater processing power also mean that users can now have more applications running at any one time, with additional functionality, such as database, e-mail and web-browsing.”

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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