CEA: Tablet Ownership Jumps 9%

By TWICE Staff On Jul 30 2012 - 8:17pm

Arlington, Va. - Ownership rates for tablet computers increased in the second quarter of 2012, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

The "Consumer Outlook on Tablets: Q3 2012" report shows that tablet ownership rates among online U.S. consumers reached 29 percent as of June 2012, a 9 percent increase from the previous quarter, CEA said. The report examined trend information on consumer behavior and sentiment regarding the sale and use of tablet computers between April and June.

Approximately two-thirds of online consumers expect to purchase a tablet sometime in the future, with 45 percent planning to purchase a tablet within the next two years, it added.

CEA's "U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts (July 2012)," released earlier this month, showed shipment revenues of tablets are expected to reach $29.1 billion this year, nearly $11 billion more than forecasted in January, and are helping to push the consumer electronics industry's annual revenues over $200 billion for the first time ever, CEA said.

Unit sales of tablets are expected to reach 68.5 million.

"The overall market for tablets continues to grow significantly with household penetration increasing for the foreseeable future," said Kevin Tillmann, CEA senior research analyst. "Rarely has a new device category been so quickly embraced by consumers, businesses and education."

Watching movies is the most popular use of a tablet, with social networking second, listening to music third, and reading books fourth. Eighty-nine percent of tablet owners said they are satisfied with the device.