News

According to digital data mining company comScore, the Amazon Kindle Fire has become the number one selling Android tablet only right behind Apple’s iPad. While the Android powered Kindle Fire shares the same software as other tablets as say, the Motorola Xoom (albeit the Fire runs Android 2.3 rather than 4.0), Amazon has stripped the OS of its Google products and replaced it with their own. With their ecosystem in place, Amazon has gained additional revenue through media purchases (apps, movies, books).  This is something competitors should try to keep in mind if they wish to compete in the sea of tablets. The common consumers don’t see tablets in terms of processing speed or memory, it’s the type of content they can consume.

OEM companies such as Samsung must be feeling a bit frustrated. Along with the Korean company, Acer, Toshiba, Motorala and a handful of other manufacturers attempted to break into the tablet game to no avail. Variously sized tablets deployed by Samsung have also failed to catch consumer’s interest, though their line of Galaxy Tab nabbed a second place among Android slates. With only 15% overall market share, Samsung and many others have a long way to go.

Google seems to be aware of this successful business model. The search giant has rechristened their Android Market as Google Play and now offers other media such as books and videos. Alongside the rumored $149 Nexus Tablet the company at Mountain View is looking to take back the Android name. Amazon won’t be a push over either, the online retail giant is also poised to release a set of new Kindle Fire models.

If this is any indication, the tablet competition is about to heat up. Even between Android OEM, competition is high, with only consumers as clear winners.

Source: Android Central