The Apple iPad mini, a smaller version of the popular iPad tablet computer, hit stores in Japan and other leading markets Friday as competition heats up ahead of the yearend shopping spree.
While cumulative global sales of tablet computers are expected to top 100 million units by year's end, Apple will try to solidify its dominant position in the burgeoning market with the iPad mini, with Kindle Fire by Amazon.com Inc., to be sold in Japan in December, and Nexus 7 by Google Inc. seen as its top rivals.
In the Japanese tablet market, Apple had a 57 percent share as of September, followed by Sony Corp.'s 10 percent, according to market research firm BCN Inc. The release of tablet computers carrying Microsoft Corp.'s recently launched Windows 8 operating software could further fuel competition.