Second-tier tablet vendors could squeeze Apple, Samsung
Tablet sales have fallen off a cliff this year, with unit sales of branded tablets down 16% year over year in the first quarter alone. That’s the largest annual decline ever for the category, ABI Research said Monday. Market leaders Apple and Samsung are feeling the impact of slower tablet sales. But they also could be squeezed this year by rising competition from second-tier vendors Acer, Asus and Lenovo. “2015 is the pivotal year for smaller, competing vendors to step-up, build their business, and gain market share in advanced and emerging markets,” ABI analyst Jeff Orr said in a statement. “The tablet market lacks a truly competitive playing field needing a strong third even fourth vendor to drive the market out of stagnation.” Despite the slowdown, tablets remain popular in households and in the education market and some business sectors, Orr said. Apple (AAPL) has partnered with IBM (IBM) to …