Apple Created iPad Mini to Lead Foreign Markets

The iPad Mini may never dominate North America, but Apple's AAPL pint-sized tablet seems to have a bright future in Taiwan and other emerging markets. Data Express, a Taiwan-based reseller, told DigiTimes that it has received more inquiries for the iPad Mini than the full-size iPad. The iPad 4 starts at NT$15,900 ($547.43 U.S.) -- roughly 50 percent more expensive than the smaller model, which starts at NT$10,500 ($361.51 U.S.). While it is unknown if the price was the leading factor in motivating consumers, they may also be drawn to the device's compact size. Apple is already the worldwide leader of the tablet market. Even in China, where the company has failed lead the smartphone space, Apple has managed to sell 70 percent of all tablets sold during the last quarter. Thus far, America has been the only market that has posed any significant challenges to Apple's success in tablet sales. Between the rise of Amazon's AMZN Kindle Fire (which commanded 22 percent of the local tablet market), Google's GOOG Nexus 7 (which is selling nearly one million units per month worldwide), Barnes & Noble's BKS Nook HD+ and the release of Windows 8, Apple has been unable to maintain a massive lead over its competitors. Apple still commands more than 50 percent of the market, however. The iPad Mini has trounced the Kindle Fire in daily ad impressions. While it is unknown exactly how many iPad Mini units have been sold, Apple did reveal that it sold a combined total of three million tablets when the Mini and the iPad 4 were released. Amazon, Google and Barnes & Noble have yet to say how many tablets they are selling. Many speculate that the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is bombing at retail, hence the reason why Amazon is eager to discount the device this holiday season. Similarly, Google quietly doubled the storage space for the Nexus 7 without adjusting the price. Follow me @LouisBedigianBZ