Strong Appetite for Apple's iPad to Drive Tablet Sales Worldwide

New products, more affordable mainstream devices 'and a huge marketing blitz from Microsoft around Windows 8' will boost consumer interest, research firm IDC predicts

Demand for tablet computers is growing faster than earlier forecasts, driven by strong demand for the iPad from Apple Inc. (IW 500/9), according to a survey released Thursday.

 The report from research firm IDC boosted the forecast for global tablet sales to 107.4 million, from a prior forecast of 106.1 million.

 IDC also revised upward its 2013 forecast number to 142.8 million from 137.4 million, and said worldwide shipments should reach 222.1 million units by 2016.

 "Demand for media tablets remains robust, and we see an increasing interest in the category from the commercial side," said Tom Mainelli, an IDC analyst.

 "We expect pending new products from major players, increasingly affordable mainstream devices, and a huge marketing blitz from Microsoft Corp. (IW 500/15) around Windows 8 to drive increased consumer interest in the category through the end of the year."