The first iPad was launched in 2010 and it was mostly used for browsing the web, checking email, using apps, playing games, and reading. In just two years iPad usage has changed quite a bit. According to research done by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), after the release of the third-generation iPad in March 2012 buyers are much more likely to use the iPad for work.
CIRP tracks iPad use categories and in the four months since the newest iPad went on sale, usage increased in many categories, but the business category saw the biggest increase. CIRP’s surveyed more than 1,000 consumers who bought iPads from December 2011 through to April 2012.
According to CIRP’s research, 21 percent of new iPad owners said they use it in work situations, which is more than the 13 percent of all iPad owners who also said they use it in work situations. Similarly, social networking is more common with new iPad owners, with 16 percent saying they use the iPad for this, in comparison to 11 percent of all iPad owners. Categories like entertainment, Internet, email, reading, etc. saw mostly the same usage across all iPad generations, while the gaming category noticeably decreased.
The increase in business usage with the new iPad doesn’t really come as a surprise as the iPad hardware has become much more business-like and business-friendly since the first-generation iPad’s inception. The biggest changes between the first two generation iPads and the new iPad is a 4G connectivity option, a faster processor and a Retina display. iOS apps are also being released that are geared more towards business people. In the past year there have been hundreds of apps that have been released for conducting meetings, collaboration, creating reports, gathering data, and keeping tabs on the stock market.
