Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Tab will be a "litmus test" for the tablet market, according to analyst firm Ovum.

Ovum analyst Tony Cripps said that the reception of the Galaxy Tab will "tell us a great deal about the likely future development of the still embryonic tablet market". "Many questions remain. Answers to these questions will only really start to be answered later in the year, by which time the Galaxy Tab, Dell Streak, and Apple iPad will have been joined by an array of variations on the tablet theme, by multiple vendors, and right across the price spectrum. In the meantime, devices such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab are providing the perfect litmus test for the tablet market's prospects."

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is smaller than the iPad, and may prove to be more accessible for users who are on the go as a media consumption device.

"With its little brother the Samsung Galaxy S Android smartphone smartphone already selling well and demand for the iPad running high, it is not unreasonable to expect the scaled-up version [Galaxy Tab] to also ship in significant volume."