89% of Businesses Plan to Buy Tablets in 2012. But Enterprise-Focused PlayBook Not on Their Radar

Think tablets won't become ubiquitous in the workplace? Think again.

The latest NPD Group research finds that tablets are continuing to gain momentum and traction in the business space. 73% of small and medium sized business plan to purchase tablets during the next year—up by 5% from just a few months ago. And an overwhelming 89% of larger businesses plan to do the same, up a considerably 8% from just the second quarter.

Up to 95% of these companies intend to spend the same or more on tablets in 2012 than in 2011, the study says, suggesting enterprises are just getting warmed up. Larger firms plan to spend nearly $40,000 on tablets in 2012. Even among companies with less than 50 employees, well over half plan to buy the mobile computing devices within the next 12 months.

The most sought after tablet in the business space is, by far, the iPad. Apple's device "is synonymous for 'Tablet' in the business market," says Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. "Just as it is in the consumer market." And while Stephen says that "businesses of all sizes appear to be determined to capitalize on the tablet phenomenon," it's noted that RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook—which was built with an enterprise focus in mind—draws little to no interest from anyone.