Apple iPad is Tablet Hit for Small Businesses

Nearly three quarters of U.S. small and midsize businesses (SMBs) with fewer than 1,000 employees have plans to purchase tablets over the next 12 months, with the Apple iPad being the most considered tablet among those firms planning an upcoming purchase, according to IT research firm The NPD Group’s 3Q 2011 SMB Technology Monitor.

Among the SMBs surveyed, 73 percent said they plan to purchase tablets over the next 12 months, up from 68 percent in the NPD Group’s 2Q 2011 survey. The vast majority (90 percent) of all firms anticipate spending the same amount or more on tablets over the next 12 months. The total average amount an SMB will spend on tablets is projected to exceed $21,000 over the next 12 months, but depending on company size, the intent and amount spent changes drastically, the report indicated.

Among larger SMBs (501 999 employees), 89 percent said they plan to purchase new tablets in the next 12 months, when polled in 3Q 2011. This represents an 8 percent from those who said the same in 2Q 2011. Most (95 percent) are planning to increase or maintain their spending levels. On average, larger firms plan to spend nearly $39,000 on tablet hardware, according to the report.

To read the original eWeek article, click here: Apple iPad Tablet of Choice for Small Businesses: NPD