Enormous interest in Apple’s iPad 2 indicates yet more growth for tablet market

Thousands of shoppers queued outside stores to get their hands on the latest Apple tablet, which was released today at 5pm.

The massive interest in the iPad 2 has already led to speculation that the number of tablets sold in this quarter alone will be more than in the whole of 2010.

Tech insurers, Protectyourbubble reported that the queue outside Apple’s flagship Regent Street store in London numbered 632 people, 181 more than the amount who queued up for the first iPad release last may.

This was dwarfed however by the queues at Birmingham’s Bull Ring shopping centre, which the Guardian estimated to be in excess of 1,000 people.

The overwhelming interest – although surely anticipated by everyone – has reportedly caused some third-party retailers to find themselves woefully understocked. Phones4U are rumoured to have only one unit in stock per store, while other retailers were rumoured to be only stocking the lower spec version for the time being.

In the background of this immense consumer interest in the new iPad, other uses for tablet technology are being developed which could prove to be a further boost for the burgeoning tablet market:

Peter O’Donoghue, of consultancy firm, Deloitte, recognised the transferability of tablet devices, predicting that “millions of units will be shipped to retail, hospital, military and the banking market”.

O’Donoghue estimates that this sector will make up a quarter of the tablet market in 2011, rising to 40% by 2014, adding that “the virtues of tablets – easy to use, virus-resistant and portable – are enormously appealing to businesses”.

All this will make for happy reading for tablet manufacturers and shareholders alike, as the tablet market prepares to experience yet more growth.

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