Tablets, netbooks and smartphones tipped for 2011 take off

Tablets, netbooks and smartphones have been tipped continue their rise in popularity as consumers worldwide look for more mobility from their computerised devices.

A report from Deloitte outlining the expected trends in consumer technology in 2011 suggests that small and portable devices will become increasing in use and in demand over the course of this year.

Businesses are likely to drive much of the shift towards tablets and netbooks as employers look to equip their workforces with ever more powerful portable computers, the professional services firm behind the latest research is convinced.

Indeed, the company is predicting that close to a quarter of all the tablet PCs sold this year will be be used by business men and women looking for new ways of operating.

A statement from the report said: “Although some commentators view tablets as underpowered media-consumption toys suitable only for consumers, more than ten million of these devices will likely be purchased by enterprises in 2011.”

Offering his take on this year’s technology trends, Deloitte’s vice chairman and technology expert, Eric Openshaw said: “Driven by high demand on the consumer side and the ever-increasingly distributed workforce, the enterprise will embrace mobile computing platforms in a big way.”

Businesses are reckoned to be increasingly adapting their security systems to ensure that the devices used by their employees are constantly protected and “safely web enabled” at all times.

Apple is currently number one in terms of tablet PC sales around the world, having shipped more than seven million iPads in the most recently assessed financial quarter. Meanwhile, several rival devices are set to be introduced into the market over the next few months by the likes of Motorola, Acer and Asustek.

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