Tablets running Microsoft Windows and Windows RT will account for slightly more than 10 percent of the worldwide market by 2017 — still well behind Android and the iPad — predicts research firm IDC in a report released today.
This is not good news for Microsoft’s efforts to remake its flagship operating system for a new world of mobile devices. IDC says one of the big challenges is the lukewarm reception for Windows RT, the version of the new operating system that runs on ARM processors.
“Microsoft’s decision to push two different tablet operating systems, Windows 8 and Windows RT, has yielded poor results in the market so far,” said Tom Mainelli, IDC research director, in a news release accompanying the report. “Consumers aren’t buying Windows RT’s value proposition, and long term we think Microsoft and its partners would be better served by focusing their attention on improving Windows 8. Such a focus could drive better share growth in the tablet category down the road.”
Android, with 42 percent market share in 2012, is projected to reach almost 49 percent this year before slipping to 46 percent in 2017. The iPad, at 51 percent in 2012, is projected to fall to 46 percent this year, giving up the lead to Android, before slipping to 43.5 percent in 2017.
Here’s an IDC chart showing its projected trends in the market.
