New figures from the International Data Corporation show that media tablet shipments haven’t increased as much as expected. IDC’s Media Tablet and eReader Tracker notes that shipments into sales channels rose by 23.9% from the previous quarter to 18.1 million units in Q3 2011. That’s an increase of 264.5% from the same quarter in 2010... but is 5.8% below IDC’s original forecast of 19.2 million units. However, IDC says the current quarter will be better than previously expected, with the total worldwide shipment forecast for 2011 expected to reach 63.3 million units.

Apple shipped 11.1 million units in Q3 2011, up from 9.3 million in the previous quarter, giving it a 61.5% worldwide market share. Samsung had 5.6% of the market, while HP’s discontinued TouchPad gained a 5% market share by shipping 903,354 units. Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color ebook reader was in fourth place, followed by ASUS.

IDC expects Android to increase its Q4 market share to 40.3%, helped by sales of the new Amazon Kindle Fire, while Apple’s iOS share is predicted to fall to 59%.

Tom Mainelli, research director for Mobile Connected Devices at IDC, said “Amazon and Barnes & Noble are shaking up the media tablet market, and their success helps prove that there is an appetite for media tablets beyond Apple’s iPad. That said, I fully expect Apple to have its best-ever quarter in 4Q11, and in 2012 I think we’ll see Apple's product begin to gain more traction outside of the consumer market, specifically with enterprise and education markets. Amazon’s introduction of the $79 entry-level [US version] Kindle and $99 touch-based Kindle (both with ads) led to a round of price cuts from competitors. That drops these products well into the range of impulse and gift buys for many, and we expect a very strong 4Q11 as a result.”

[Report]