Take a tablet for business

Businesses will want media tablets in the wake of the iPad 2, says Dave Stevinson

Apple sold nearly 15m iPads last year. The vendor just seemed to have got it right, reinvigorating the tablet market in the process. And now there is the iPad 2.

I think there will be opportunities in the B2B channel now, as there is increasing adoption of consumer technology by enterprise.

Roles are emerging for tablets in the business environment around specific issues like security and compatibility with WinTel software.

I have witnessed specific uses in areas such as training, video conferencing, and product demonstrations or price comparisons.

Business is certainly where Apple's competitors are trying their luck. Research in Motion has announced its PlayBook, a Blackberry tablet, which goes on sale in the US on 19 April for a recommended retail price of $499 (£315).

That is the same US price as an entry-level iPad.

However, one obvious difference between the PlayBook and the iPad 2 is the size. Playbook is smaller, although the iPad is thinner.

Cisco is also expected to release details of its tablet, the Cius – another tablet aimed exclusively at the business market.

Dual-core processing will take hold and eventually dominate. These processors could bring full 1080p high-definition video, 3D gaming and 16-megapixel cameras to tablets.

As more apps appear, tablets will be able to perform most functions currently done with laptops. Tablets will become more portable and lighter. Apps will be company- or industry-specific.

And we will see front-facing cameras suitable for video conferencing, an enabler for businesses.

I think that businesses will require specific applications backed with enhanced security, which is something the iPad 2 might fail to deliver.

Dave Stevinson is sales director at VIP Computers