Separately, Apple has reported that it sold 7.3 million iPads in the quarter ended 25th December, up from 4.2m in the previous quarter. It has now sold about 14m devices.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and e-reader Tracker, suppliers shipped 4.8m tablets globally in  the third-quarter of 2010, compared to 3.3m units in the second quarter of 2010, with Apple's iPad representing nearly 90% of the media tablets shipped worldwide. Meanwhile, the third quarter of 2010 saw global e-reader shipments increase to 2.7m units representing 40% growth over the second quarter, with the US representing nearly three-quarters of the worldwide e-reader market.

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