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Samsung has lost the top slot in the tablet segment to desi company — iBall. According to research firm IDC, Samsung has slipped to the number two slot while iBall has climbed up to take the top rank. Samsung has already lost the top slot in the smartphone segment to Micromax according to another research firm Canalys.

According to IDC, iBall rapidly climbed up its way to the number one spot in the fourth quarter of FY 2014. From a 4.5 per cent share in Q4 2013, the brand has more than tripled its share in Q4 2014.

"Its growth is backed by low-cost products targeted at consumers looking to own entry level form factors. The brand is actively engaged in expanding its retail presence as well as geographical reach," IDC said

Samsung slipped to the second spot, with 12.9 per cent market share as against a 17.9 per cent share in Q4 2013. Local tablet vendors pose stiff competition to Samsung at the retail counters.

After witnessing strong growth in the festive third quarter, the Indian tablet market posted growth in Q4 2014, ending the year on a positive note. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), the Indian tablet market reported shipments of 0.96 million units in Q4, a quarter-on-quarter growth of 3.6 per cent.

"The strong performance of local players as well as the increasing interest of PC OEMs in the tablet space contributed to the expansion of the market over Q3. The share of PC OEMs in the market has more than doubled year-on-year. This lead to CY 2014 closing on the 3.5-million-mark, posting a decline of 15 per cent over CY 2013," IDC said

“The market saw a correction post the introduction of BIS regulation in July 2013. Unbranded tablets were wiped out, thereby contracting the bubble of growth witnessed in 1H 2013, and hence resulting in a year-on-year decline in growth,” says Tanvi Mann , Market Analyst, Client Devices IDC India

7 inch tablets in the less-than-$150 price band populate the market and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. While Android still has majority of the pie, IDC sees vendors exploring the 8-9” Windows form factor.

“Consumers are driving the wave of adoption of low-cost tablets as a preferred mobility solution. We are also witnessing a higher inclination among consumers towards online buying platforms and vendors are keeping up with the trend,” says Kiran Kumar, Research Manager, Client Devices, IDC India.

Wi-Fi enabled tablets have faced a steep decline over the quarters, losing out to connected tablets. The market is swiftly moving towards 3G connected tablets that posted double digit growth in Q4 and accounted for approximately 60 per cent of the total shipments.

IDC anticipates 2015 to kick-start with large Government and education projects feeding the commercial segment. The consumer space will continue to be led by local brands and we may see the re-entry of some of older players in the top five vendor list. On a yearly basis, we expect 2015 to post single digit growth over 2014.

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Published on February 23, 2015