Apple Has 95% of Tablet Market: Strategy Analytics

Apple AAPL controlled 95% of the emerging market for tablet computers with its iPads in the July-to-September quarter, research firm Strategy Analytics SA said on Tuesday. The competition in the market is, however, tightening fast with handset vendors and PC makers moving into the new category of devices, between traditional PCs and smartphones, taking a cue from the success the iPad, a 10-inch touchscreen tablet that began selling in April. The total market grew to 4.4 million tablets in the September quarter from 3.5 million in the previous quarter, the researcher said. "The tablet wars are up and running. Apple has quickly leveraged its famous brand, an extensive retail presence and user-friendly design to develop the tablet segment into a multi-billion-dollar global business," said SA analyst Neil Mawston. Mawston said the other platforms -- Android GOOG, Microsoft MSFT, MeeGo of Nokia NOK and Intel INTC , Hewlett-Packard's HPQ webOS and RIM's RIMM Blackberry -- have already much ground to make up. Read the rest here.