Tablet computer market set to fall in 2015
The market analysis firm reckons the mobile phone market will continue to grow in the next few years as will the ultramobile notebook computer market, the latter coming from a low base.
The combined worldwide shipments of computing devices – a classification comprising PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones – is expected to reach 2.5 billion units in 2015, a 1.5 percent increase from 2014 (see table). End-user spending on devices will total $606 billion in 2015 and will show a 5.7 percent decline in US dollars. Public spending is expected to resume growth in 2016 rising to $616.7 billion and then on to $627.1 billion in 2017.
Table: Worldwide devices shipments by equipment type, 2014 to 2017 in millions of units. Source: Gartner.
There has been a slow down in personal computer purchases in Western Europe, Russia and Japan, largely due to price increases resulting from local currency devaluation against the dollar.
The smartphone market continues to grow driven by emerging markets, with China leading the way, Gartner said.
"The tablet market is hit by fewer new buyers, extended life cycles and little innovation to encourage new purchases," said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner, in a statement.
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