IDC: Tablet forecast lowered as other form factors muscle in

Faced with growing competition from larger-screen smartphones and the prospect of consumer spending being diverted by new categories such as wearable devices, research firm IDC  modestly lowered its tablet forecast for 2013 and beyond. The company said it now expects worldwide tablet shipments to reach 227.4 million units in 2013, down slightly from a previous forecast of 229.3 million but still 57.7 per cent above 2012 shipments. Despite the small reduction for this year, the market will continue to grow at a rapid pace; by 2017 IDC said it expects worldwide shipments to be nearly 407 million units. The company also adjusted its regional outlook, with maturing markets such as the U.S. now expected to cede share more rapidly to emerging markets such as Asia-Pacific. Article