An enormous number of handheld PCs have been launched by both mainstream and less well known tablet manufacturers since 2010. Industry observers are saying that the ultra mobile PC and the rugged tablet PC have become the mobile device of choice among both commercial, professional and general public user.

The applications of tablet technology are specifically produced to be highly adaptable for a wide number of demanding working environments as well as for standard office or other interior spaces. Designed in a variety of screen sizes and function types, such as touch screen, digitizer or dual mode, a tablet which combines several key qualities is quickly recognised as an invaluable, and essential everyday tool.

Lightweight, small scale, instantly portable, with a clear, detailed screen at least a third to four times larger the size of a smartphone,  the majority of regular users use a tablet to access the web, file share, email, social network and make online purchases.

Surveys and questionnaires are repeatedly finding that at least 50 per cent of consumers claim they are interested in purchasing a hand held computer, and as a result, future sales are expected to rise from 19.7 million in 2010 to reach 61.9 million units by the end of 2011. Market insiders also predict  that alternative brand sales of tablets will grow by some 134 per cent during the next twelve months, as use of the Android operating system predominates amongst many of the new mobiles entering the marketplace.

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Studies also reveal that over half of tablet owners are far more likely than e-reader users to respond to in-app advertising, which is a slightly higher number than physical magazine readers who say they respond to advertisements. According to some reported estimates, nearly 25 per cent of tablet owners say they have already engaged with advertising content, compared to less than 1 per cent by owners of e-reader devices.

A survey of online shoppers in Spring 2011 found that around 9 per cent – or 1 in 11 – said they already owned a tablet PC, the majority of whom, preferred to use their tablets rather than a smartphone to make purchases online as they find their tablet as easy to use as their computer when searching and ordering goods. Amongst tablet owners, around 75 per cent also own a smartphone, which means that 7 per cent of online shoppers own both a tablet and smartphone.

Purchasing online is a popular activity with around 50 per cent  of tablet PC owners who state they already purchase online via their tablet while a further 13 per cent have searched for goods online using their tablet without making a purchase. According to Forrester Research, tablets look most likely to become the leading mobile technology, ” … for at-home and portable shopping experiences… “, while the role of the smartphone will likely be to dominate the “in-store shopping experience”.

The opportunities  for advertising to the tablet PC owner look promising as studies of user behaviour  increasingly show that tablet ads are having a greater influence in their capacity to engage and encourage consumers to calls to action much quicker by simply touching links to visit websites.