Android gains as small tablet sales soar: IDC

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Small tablet computers are marketplace hits, with economically-priced devices powered by Google's Android software taking share from Apple iPads, according to International Data Corporation.

"One in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below eight inches in screen size," said IDC research analyst Jitesh Ubrani.

"Vendors are moving quickly to compete in this space as consumers realize that these small devices are often more ideal than larger tablets for their daily consumption habits." International Data Corporation on Tuesday increased its tablet market forecast for this year to 190.9 million and said that it expected the figure to be closer to 350 million by the end of the year 2017.

Android-powered tablets expanded their share of the market "notably" last year and that trend is expected to continue, according to IDC.