Rivals looking to knock the iPad from its perch cannot hope to challenge Apple's dominance with superior hardware.

That's according to Forrester Research VP and principle analyst James McQuivey, who has claimed competitors must instead focus on delivering platforms packed with content that can compete with the iOS ecosystem.

All hail the king

Speaking at paidContent 2012, McQuivey looked to dispel the myth that users are only drawn to Apple devices because of the hardware behind them.

Rather, success in the tablet market relies on a 'platform promise' - a three-way 'conspiracy' between device makers, service providers, and consumers.

"The only tablets that can compete with the iPad are those that have a platform promise," explained McQuivey in his presentation, suggesting that Android tablets have failed to deliver on this front to date.

"It's all about the software," McQuivey continued, emphasising that hardware is of secondary concern. "The platform is the new throne where content reigns and content is king."

McQuivey's comments come as Millennial reports Android tablets are finally beginning to make ground in the US, with Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Amazon's Kindle Fire leading the way.

[source: paidContent]