iPad sales to top seven million this year

While the Apple iPad is just three days old, analysts are tipping the gadget as a success with one company forecasting sales of over 7.1 million this year alone.

The figures, announced by iSuppli last week, also contain forecasts of 14.4 million units in 2011, with 20.1 million expected in 2012. The research firm said these numbers were conservative, and that demand will be driven by an increased number of apps, new functionality options and lower prices.

The figures are also based on growing demand for tablet devices.

Research firm IDC recently told BusinessWeek that tablet computers are expected to pick up from where netbooks left off. The company said that while netbooks recorded a 872% rise in sales during the first quarter of 2009, growth slowed to just 33.6% year-on-year during the January-March period of this year.