This IDC study, which is a translation of the Japanese document IDC #J12150103, analyzes products in the Japan mobile and client computing market. It identifies product issues and presents a forecast on future product trends. Products covered in this study are smartphones, media tablets, and client PCs (excluding x86 servers). The annual data presented in this study up to 2011 and quarterly data up to 4Q11 (October–December) are actual values. All data are updated as of March 2012.

"It is difficult for vendors to achieve profitability for Android-powered media tablets. Amid the impending launch of Windows 8 and forecasts for tablet PC support, many vendors have expectations on tablet slate PCs. To realize the forecasts, it is necessary to market user benefits that can be experienced on tablets and the high operability to users," says Hirotoshi Asano, senior market analyst, PC, Mobile, and Client Solutions, IDC Japan.