PRAGUE, May 22, 2015 – Tablet and 2-in-1 shipments in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) declined by more than 20% in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same quarter in 2014, according to the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Quarterly Tablet Tracker published by International Data Corporation (IDC). Key factors in the expected market downturn were the negative economic situations in Russia and Ukraine and the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the depreciation of their local currencies. In total, 2.7 million devices were shipped to the channels in the first three months of this year. (TZ)
Other factors that negatively impacted the CEE tablet market included the growing maturity of the market, which is reflected in longer device life-cycles, and the popularity of alternative devices such as large-screen smartphones.
“Although the CEE tablet market is reaching saturation, segments with growth potential still exist – such as detachable 2-in-1s and devices with fourth-generation mobile connectivity and increased storage and battery life,” says Jiří Teršel, senior research analyst for the tablet market with IDC CEMA.
Cellular-enabled tablets are outgrowing the rest of the market, providing an additional revenue stream for OEMs and mobile operators. They also help position the segment as true mobile solutions rather than stay-at-home devices.
IDC believes tablet OEM’s should continue to focus on potential growth areas like the aforementioned cellular-ready tablets and 2-in-1 devices. The commercial segment remains an area to watch for both form factors, as uptake among consumers is expected to increase in EMEA regions less affected by the downturn in the Russian and Ukraine markets.
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