EMEA tablet sales to reach 33 million in 2012

Tablet computers are becoming a big business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, with sales expected to grow 53 percent year over year in 2012 to reach 33 million units, according to a Times of Oman report.

As in other areas of the world, tablets are changing the way people in EMEA interact with their PCs and offering a new channel for media consumption. People are taking advantage of the technology's portability and computing power, whether it's for personal use or for business.

Unlike in the United States, the EMEA tablet market appears to have more diversity. While Apple® and its iPad® remain the dominant force in the market, certain tablets based on Google's Android™ operating are also making headway, the Times of Oman suggests.

Some of these devices have become especially popular for their "Arabic language support and Arabic lifestyle applications," the news provider reports. Others are proving popular in the enterprise, adopted by professionals in healthcare, sales and field support, among others.

Globally, research firm Gartner expects tablet sales to exceed 100 million in 2012. The iPad will continue to hold its place atop the market, but tablets running Android as well as the upcoming Windows® 8 may start chipping away at this lead.