The iPad 2 tablet computer
Depending of course on how much disposable income you have, it seems 2012 will spawn the era of the multi-tablet computer owner, echoing a similar trend that occurred with smartphones.
It seems like the tablet computer genre has barely arrived, yet we are about to witness the arrival of the third generation of Apple’s iPad and 2012 could be the year that Google finally focuses on what its Android operating system can really do on tablets.
The tablet explosion has shown little sign of slowing down since the format hit the market in 2010 and it is set to take the mantle of the most rapid ‘multi-anything’ market penetration in history, according to Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications forecast for 2012.
Roughly 5m tablets will be sold to people that already owned one in 2012, generating up to US$2bn in revenue. However, the tablet market will diversify around size, processing power, price and operating system in 2012, as was the case with smartphones.
Firms are also likely to require tablets with greater security and ruggedness. That presents a challenge for content owners, network operators and retailers that need to prepare to respond to the rise in the multi-tablet household.
The rise of big data
Other predictions contained in Deloitte’s forecast include the rise and rise of big data in 2012 – it says 90pc of Fortune 500 companies will kick off a big data initiative, triggering industry revenues of US$1bn.
The death of TV, or the TV schedule, is still a long way off, as 95pc of all TV programmes watched in 2012 will be live or within a day of the original broadcast.
In fact, rather than diminishing the appeal of the TV schedule, social media has actually enhanced it – heck, it gives us all something to heckle about on Twitter and Facebook, adding to the entertainment value.
In terms of mobile commerce and new ways of buying goods, near field communications technologies that convert smartphones into ‘contactless’ digital wallets is set to soar to 300m users by 2013.
In Ireland, NFC may run into road blocks. Ireland is already a laggard when it comes to electronic payments and only 10pc of CIOs surveyed by Deloitte feel m-commerce or m-payments will be relevant to their organisations.
