iPad may sell less than Android

Sales of the iPad must be below a growing wave of tablets with the Android operating system for the first time this year, said the research company IDC. The supply of devices with smaller screens and using the system have met the demand of more consumers.
The prediction is that the iPad should represent 46% of the market in 2013 compared to 51% last year. Android devices, system created by Google, should expand its participation of 42% to 49% this year.
IDC reported that tablets using the Windows platform 8 will increase their participation, of 1% last year to 7.4% in 2017.
The company also raised its forecast on sales of 172.4 million tablets to 190.9 million units in 2013. Last year, sales rose to 128.3 million units compared to 72 million in 2011.
"One in two tablets sold this quarter has the screen below 8 inches. We hope that tablets of smaller size to continue growing their sales in 2013 and in addition, "IDC said in a statement.
Last month, HewlettPackard released 7 Slate with Android operating system. The product is an important component of the company's strategy to expand its presence in the markets of mobile devices and reduce the dependence on the shrinking market for personal computers.