For Tablets, The iPad is the Only Choice [Analyst]

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For those concerned Android was catching up with Apple’s iPad, JPMorgan analyst Mark Moskowitz has this message: stop your worrying. “Beyond the iPad, there has not been another high-volume tablet offering, yet,” he told investors Thursday. When one does, don’t look to Mountain View, but Microsoft for a credible Apple competitor.


Moskowitz was one those worry warts who thought Android-based tablets were gaining ground on Apple. However, that forecast never materialized. As a result, the analyst believes Apple will maintain 70.9 percent of the tablet market this year, an almost 10 percent increase over his early prediction in February for 60.8 percent. Even in 2012, Apple should shed only about 8 percent.

He thinks the most pressuring iPad rival will be based on Microsoft’ Windows 8 OS, not expected to ship until mid-2012. A Windows tablet could create a “clear number two,” the analyst writes.

But what about an Android-based tablet from Amazon? Moskowitz sees the Google OS as a hindrance, rather than any help. Indeed, most sales would be due to the Amazon brand.

In related news, analyst Andy Hargreaves of Pacific Crest has upped his estimate on how many iPhones and iPads will ship during the fourth quarter, ending this month. Based on talks with Apple’s supply chain, he expects 24.05 million iPhones will ship during this quarter, up from 18.7 million. Likewise, he sees a 49 percent jump in iPad shipments to 16.5 million, a jump from 11.1 million.

Hargreaves also notes Apple’s iPhone 5 shipments increased by 700,000 units while parts destined for the 3GS and iPhone 4 have lessened.

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