iBall takes over Samsung as top tablet vendor in India: IDC

Technology giant Samsung has been de-throned as top tablet vendor in the Indian market by domestic firm iBall, according to global research firm IDC.

Mumbai-based iBall has overtaken Samsung in the Indian tablet market with 15.6% share in the October-December quarter, which saw total shipments of 0.96 million units, according to IDC's latest quarterly estimates.

Samsung saw its share declining to 12.9% in the October-December quarter, 2014, from 22.2% in the third quarter of 2014.

"iBall rapidly climbed up its way to the number 1 spot in this quarter. From a 4.5% share in Q4 2013, the brand has more than tripled its share in Q4 2014," IDC said in a statement. IBall had a 10.6% share in July-September, 2014, and ranked third after Samsung and Micromax.

Its growth is backed by low-cost products, targeted at consumers looking to own entry-level form factors, it added.

"The brand is actively engaged in expanding its retail presence as well as geographical reach ... Local tablet vendors are posing stiff competition to Samsung at retail counters," IDC said.

While various research firms like Counterpoint and GfK pegged Samsung as a leader in the Indian smartphone market, a report by Canalys said Micromax (22% share) had overtaken Samsung (20%) as number one seller in the last quarter of 2014.

Micromax, which has been clashing head-to-head with the Korean firm in the smartphone segment, failed to mark a presence in the top 5 tablet vendor tally in the fourth quarter of 2014, as per IDC data. It ranked second with 10.9% share in the July-September 2014.

Datawind, Lenovo and HP followed in the list with 9.6%, 9.4% and 8.7% share, respectively.

According to IDC, the India tablet market reported a quarter-on-quarter growth of 3.6% to 0.96 million units in the fourth quarter of 2014.

For calender year 2014, the shipments declined 15% to 3.5 million units over 2013.

"The market saw a correction post the introduction of BIS regulation in July 2013. Unbranded tablets were wiped off from the market, thereby contracting the bubble of growth witnessed in H1 2013 and hence resulting in year-on-year decline in growth," IDC India Market Analyst Client Devices Tanvi Mann said.