Apple will begin selling the iPad 2 in 25 additional countries March 25 and will add Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore to the list in April.
The Apple iPad 2 will go on sale
in 25 additional countries March 25, proving it takes more than hell and high
water to slow down Apple.
As the CTIA Wireless trade show
got underway in Orlando March 22, the Cupertino,
Calif., computer maker announced it will begin
selling the iPad 2 in the additional locations at Apple retail stores and
authorized resellers beginning 5 p.m. local time. Additionally, it will begin
shipping its newest generation iPad to Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and
additional countries in April.
"While competitors are still
struggling to catch up with our first iPad, we've changed the game again with
iPad 2," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. "We're experiencing amazing
demand for iPad 2 in the U.S., and customers around the world have told us they
can't wait to get their hands on it. We appreciate everyone's patience and we
are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone."
On March 2
Jobs
introduced the device, which is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, 15 percent lighter and noticeably quicker, thanks to Apple's dual-core A5
processor, the next generation of the A4 in the original iPad.
Apple also included a front-facing VGA camera for video chatting with its FaceTime app, a
rear-facing camera capable of taking 720p HD video, fit in a battery
with up to 10 hours of go time, and introduced updated versions of its iMovie
and GarageBand apps for the iPad that users can purchase for $4.99.
According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, Apple sold
nearly
half a million
of the devices on its U.S. launch date alone, exceeding Munster's
expectations. "Strong demand in stores and online suggests that
our estimate of 5.5 million iPads in the March quarter is likely
conservative," he wrote in a March 14 report.
However, analysis firm IHS iSuppli
suggested Apple might face production problems, after a teardown analysis of
the iPad 2 showed that
at
least five major components to be the work of Japanese manufacturers. While
some suppliers have reported that their facilities survived the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake
and subsequent tsunami, logistical challenges are said to be rampant in
portions of the country. Additionally, aftershocks and rolling blackouts to
conserve energy continued to create difficulties, particularly for
semiconductor builders whose products require delicate processes that are
sensitive to exterior conditions.
On March 25, the 16GB, WiFi-only model
of the iPad 2 will begin selling in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom for $499. A 32GB
model will be available for $599 and a 64GB for $699.
Models including both WiFi and 3G
connectivity (in the United States, they're available from Verizon Wireless and
AT&T) will be priced at $629 for a 16GB device, $729 for a 32GB and $829 for a 64GB iPad 2.
Further international ability and
pricing information will be announced at a later date, Apple said.
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