Australians bought 1.4 million tablet computers in 2011 with Apple’s iPad capturing 76% of the market according to a new research study.The seconde biggest provider was Samsung followed by Motorola, Acer, Asus, and the struggling Telstra $199 Touch Tab. No vendor was able to get above single digit market share according to Telsyte research director Foad Fadaghi.

Samsung’s share was affected after Apple took action in the Federal Court in an efforet to stop Samsung selling their Galaxy Tab 10.1 prior to Christmas. 

The popularity of touchscreen media tablets is accelerating with 2.6 million Australians already using one and more than 11 million set to buy one according to Telsyte

The Telsyte Australian media tablet study 2012 indicates more than 1.4 million media tablets were sold in Australia in 2011, representing an annual growth rate of more than 330 per cent. In 2012, Telsyte expects more than 2 million media tablets will be sold locally, growing to 5 million by 2016.

On current trends Telsyte estimates around half of the Australian population will be using a media tablet by 2016.

Telsyte believes that Microsoft’s incoming Windows 8 operating system on tablet form factors has the potential to accelerate the market, particularly in the business segment.

Telsyte predicts mobile carriers will be a growing channel for vendors, particularly with the arrival of LTE (4G) tablets in 2012.