Research finds Britons are turning on to tablets

Must have: while Apple doesn't release it's sales figures, experts estimate that up to five million Brits have bought its market leading iPad

11 April 2012

BSkyB today declared that 2012 would be its year of the tablet, as research claimed nearly one in 10 Britons got one of these mobile devices for Christmas, while a further 16% intend to buy one during the next 12 months.

Sky published the research by Mintel as the company launched its new Sky Sports News iPad app, which will be made available free to most of its subscribers and cost £4.99 a month as a standalone service.

David Gibbs, the broadcaster's director of mobile, said that there has been an "explosion" in the number of consumers in the UK who want to consume video content while they are on the move.

The pay-TV giant is now streaming 30 million pieces of video a month on its Sky Go mobile service.

The Mintel research also showed that the average home in Britain now has six screens, half of which are smartphones, tablets or other types of mobile devices.

Industry estimates suggest that Apple has sold as many as five million iPads in Britain.

Apple, which has more than a 75% share of the British tablet market, does not disclose its sales figures.