Slow starter
Despite its rapid gains in the smartphone market, it looks like Android has its work cut out for it in the tablet space.
The webosphere is quite down on the Motorola Xoom today, following some analyst reports suggesting not many of them have been sold.
Forbes noted a research note from Pacific Crest analyst James Faucette stating that his channel checks have revealed disappointing sales of both the Xoom and the Atrix Tegra 2 smartphone. On that basis he's cutting his revenue forecast for Motorola Mobility.
Meanwhile the Android developer site has published information detailing which versions all Android devices are using based on those that accessed the Android Market in the last two weeks of March. The good news is that the majority of phones are on at least Android 2.2, but the bad news is that only 0.2 percent are on 3.0 - Honeycomb.
This data has led to a bunch more conjecture about initial sales of the Xoom, which is the only Honeycomb device on the market right now. Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff reckons we're looking at around 100,000, which is much less than Apple has typically sold on the first day of an iPad launch. Having said that Modoff notes this is more or less in line with expectations.
Over on this side of the pond there are reports that Moto is having a bit of a rethink about how to market the Xoom, possibly in the light of disappointing sales in the US. The fact that PC World has yet to start selling the Xoom, despite saying on the site that it will be available in the first week of April. is perhaps further indication of a rethink from Motorola. As is a pre-launch price drop of £20.
Most neutrals will be hoping the Xoom sells well - if only to bring balance to the tablet force. But these initial signs are another reminder of how tough it is competing with Apple these days. Estimates of iPad 2 sales are north of 2 million already.
