Global IT spend is set to grow by 5.6 per cent this year and an appreciative nod has been given to tablet devices.
Research by Gartner predicted $3.6 trillion (2.24 trillion) would be spent worldwide on IT in 2011, up from $3.4 trillion in 2010.
This is the first quarter tablets have been included in the hardware estimates from the analyst firm, which increased this area's predicted growth outlook from 7.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent over the next year.
"The addition of media tablets, reinforced by an expected additional decline in the value of the dollar, accounts for the increase in top-line growth," said Richard Gordon, research vice president at Gartner.
"Absent the addition of media tablets, the forecast would have slightly declined in constant-dollar terms; however, with their addition, there's virtually no change in underlying forecast growth at the level of overall IT."
Gartner claimed spending on tablets was set to hit $29.4 billion in 2011 up from $9.6 billion in 2010. The analysts also predicted the cash spent on the devices would rise an average of 52 per cent annually up until 2015.
Impact of global events
Despite the report making figures for IT spending appear rosy for now, Gartner admitted global events could have an effect.
Gordon admitted the research had been completed before the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and it was still unclear what the impact of the natural disasters would be.
"On this point, we are looking at two potential effects on IT markets as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan: consequences of disruptions in the global electronics supply chain and impacts on IT demand," he added.
However, the "political unrest" occurring across the Middle East right now should not damage forecasts noticeably.
"The Middle East share of global IT spending is approximately two per cent," Gordon said.
"While the political unrest affecting many countries in the region may well dent IT spending levels, any impact would be insignificant at the global level."
