According to market research, consulting and advisory providers firm CyberMedia Research, sales are expected to accelerate further by 14% in order to 12. 71 million units in 2012.
The study pointed out that with nearly 10 million unit sales this year, the combined installed base of desktop and notebook personal computers in India is estimated to possess crossed 52 million units as of December 31, 2010.
The current installed base of pcs translates into one computer for every 25 Indians, doubling the per capita PC availability in only four years. At the end of 2006, there was approximately one computer for each 50 Indians.
The first tablet computer was launched in India in The fall of, 2010. Since then, the market has seen a slew of launches through both MNC and Indian players.
While models like Cisco's Cius and RIM's Blackberry Playbook tablets are centered on the enterprise user segment, the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Reliance 3G Tab manufactured by Chinese telecom manufacturer ZTE are centered on the consumer segment.
The firm expects tablets to become the new battleground as major MNCs and Indian vendors and operators race to capture a share of the emerging market.
The first half of 2011 witnessed subdued sales in the Indian PC market due to lower offtake by the government, public and private sector. Lower consumer demand also put into the slack sales.
This situation is expected to correct itself in the actual July-September, 2011, quarter as strong demand from the education sector is usually witnessed in the commencement of the new academic session.
Consumer buying is also expected to be higher in the July-December period of 2011 due to festive season buying.
Domestic demand in the large and SMB enterprise segments is likely to remain healthy as well.
However, a 'wait-and-watch' buying sentiment may continue in the corporate sector because of the ongoing uncertain economic environment in the US, Europe and Japan.
The other major development having a likely impact on companies' shares of the PC market was HP's announcement on August 18-19 it was spinning off its PC business, the study added.