While many industry observers say a slowdown in tablet sales show the device’s day in the sun is nearing an end, Apple CEO Tim Cook disagrees. He sees the recent iPad sales slump as merely a “speed bump”.
Speaking with Re/code’s Walt Mossberg, Cook was decidedly upbeat about the tablet industry, and unsurprisingly Apple’s iPad, amid worries that the market is losing steam.
“We couldn’t be happier with how we’ve done with the first four years of the iPad,” Cook said. “I’d call what’s going on recently a speed bump, and I’ve seen that in every category.”
Cook expressed a similar sentiment when addressing shareholder concerns over lower iPad numbers back in July. Apple put 13.3 million iPads out the door in the June quarter, down 9.2% when compared to the same period in 2013.
At that time, Cook pointed to channel reduction and localized slowdown in some developed markets, such as the U.S. and Western Europe, but promised upcoming innovations and partnerships would drive growth.
One possible driver for growth is Apple’s recently announced partnership with IBM, which will focus on enterprise solutions using the iPad and over 100 native iOS apps and services that IBM is working on. “IBM MobileFirst for iOS,” is expected to debut later this year.
Another possibility to jumpstart sagging iPad sales is the much-rumored 12.9-inch iPad we reported on yesterday. A larger device such as the one Bloomberg’s report says is in the pipeline, could gain traction in the enterprise, and possibly, the educational markets.
