Tablet Shipments Increase 331% from Last Year, Apple Market Share Falls

Tablet computer makers shipped more than 15 million units in the second quarter of 2011, a more than 300% increase from a year ago, according to analyst firm Strategy Analytics.

Strategy Analytics research shows that technology companies shipped 4 million tablets in last year's second quarter, which translates to a 331% quarter-over-quarter increase.

The firm indicates that Apple's share fell to 61% of the total tablet market, though its popular iPad 2 continues to impress reviewers and customers alike. The company shipped 9.3 million iPads during the period.

Apple's drop in market share came from strength in sales numbers from Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system, whose shipments jumped to 4.6 million units from 100,000 in 2010. Android now holds 30% of the tablet market, a dramatic increase from 3% last year.

Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, remains unsure of Google's ability to overtake Apple in the tablet market, however.

"Multiple Android models distributed across multiple countries by multiple brands such as Samsung, Acer, Asus, Motorola and others are driving volumes. However, no Android vendor yet offers a blockbuster model to rival the iPad, and demand for many Android vendors' products remains patchy," he said.

Continuing, he noted that "If Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) decides to enter the Android tablet category later this year, that will bring fresh excitement and buzz to the Android community, but Amazon will need to deliver a truly stand-out offering if it really wants to make headway against the popular iPad."

BlackBerry's (NASDAQ: RIMM) new tablet, the PlayBook, sold 500,000 units during the quarter. It now holds 3% of the global tablet market. Microsoft also holds 5% of the global market, "despite not yet having a platform fully optimised for finger-driven tablets," Strategy Analytics noted.