Galaxy Tab sales hit 1 million, reports say

04.12.2010
Samsung has sold 1 million worldwide just two months after putting it on sale outside the U.S., and all four major wireless U.S. carriers starting sales in mid-November, according to a report.

The larger 9.7-inch screen Apple iPad tablet hit the 1 million sold mark just one month after going on sale in April. Nonetheless, the Samsung sales results show that the Android-based, 7-inch touchscreen of the Galaxy Tab is indeed popular as well.

The Thanksgiving holiday likely helped spur sales in the U.S., although Samsung has not revealed sales figures for specific regions. A to eWeek magazine that it had reached the 1 million sales mark globally.

Samsung could not imediately be reached for further comment by Computerworld.

Individual carriers recently said they were encouraged by Galaxy Tab sales, but did not reveal any specific figures.

The 9.7-inch touchscreen iPad is undoubtedly going to dominate the tablet market for some time, with more than 4 million sold in Apple's fourth quarter that ended in Oct. 31. Analysts have estimated that more than 8 million iPads had been sold overall prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Samsung and Google's Android mobile OS could be considered the biggest winners with the early success of the Galaxy Tab. Android-based Samsung's Galaxy S smartphones are sold by most of the major U.S. carriers as Samsung pushes to improve its presence in the important U.S. market.

Samsung was shown to be the biggest mobile device manufacturer selling to U.S. buyers in the latest , released Friday. Of 30,000 people surveyed, 24.2% said they are were using a Samsung phone or other Samsung mobile device.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at , or subscribe to . His e-mail address is .

in Computerworld's Mobile and Wireless Topic Center.