Leading e-paper supplier E Ink Holding (EIH) expects worldwide e-book reader shipments to stay on course to reach its estimated volume of 25-30 million units in 2011, with the company reporting that its orders will definitely grow in the third quarter, according to industry sources.

Many of EIH's clients will launch new e-book reader models in the second half of 2011, during which e-book reader shipments will be 1.5 times those of the first half, the sources said.

But global shipments of e-book readers experienced a seasonal dip in the second-quarter, according to IDC. Shipments reached nearly six million units in first-quarter 2011, but shipments in the second quarter totaled 5.4 million units, up 167% on-year but down 9.2% on-quarter.

Amazon Kindle's market share slid to 51.7% in the second-quarter from about 53% in the first, while Barnes & Noble's Nook dropped to 21.2% from about 23%, according to IDC.

But smaller vendors made gains in the second quarter, with third-place Pandigital's share growing to 6% from 5% for the first quarter. Fourth-place Sony's market share grew to 3.8% from 3.4%, while number-five Hanvon saw its share increase to 3.7% from 3.3%. Canada-based Kobo Books' share leaped to 3.2% from 1.8%.

EIH commented that the shifting market share means more suppliers are willing to invest in the e-book reader market, adding momentum to growth. E Ink said vendors were clearing out their inventories in the second quarter, and significant sales will occur in the second-half of the year when new products are released.

Source:digitimes