Apple has sold more than 2 million iPads, with the device now shipping in the United Kingdom, as well as to more than a half-dozen other countries. While Foxconn, an Apple manufacturer, is struggling with worker suicides, Apple CEO Steve Jobs says Apple is "working hard to build enough for everyone."
Apple has sold more than 2 million iPads in the less than 60 days since it
launched the tablet-style device, Apple announced May 31.
Following the device's instant success in the United
States-with sales passing 1 million units in
just a month-Apple delayed the iPad's international launch.
Over
the U.S. Memorial Day weekend, however, the iPad arrived in stores in the
United Kingdom and is additionally shipping in Australia,
Canada, France,
Germany, Italy,
Japan, Spain
and Switzerland.
Developers have so far created more than 5,000 applications for the iPad, although
the device can, with varying user experiences, additionally run almost all of
the 200,000-plus apps in the Apple App Store that were created for the iPhone
and iPod Touch.
More than just a success for Apple, the 1.5-pound iPad-which is dominated by
a 9.7-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with multitouch technology-has
breathed new life into the tablet market, and nearly a dozen manufacturers now
have tablets in the works or are
seriously
considering adding one to their lineup.
Dell, for example, recently introduced the Streak, a 5-inch,
Android-running tablet that will arrive in the United Kingdom in early June
and the United States in late summer. Worldwide PC leader Hewlett-Packard also
has plans to release a tablet running Windows 7, followed, eventually, by
another with the WebOS platform developed by Palm-which HP recently purchased.
On May 31,
Asustek
also got in the game, releasing images and limited specifications for two tablets
that it has planned. Both will run the Microsoft Windows 7 operating
system.
Celebrating the iPad's 2 million mark, Apple CEO
Steve Jobs said in a statement, "Customers around the world are experiencing
the magic of iPad, and seem to be loving it as much as we do. We appreciate
their patience, and are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone."
Foxconn, which reportedly builds the iPad, as well Apple's iPhone and
devices for other high-end brands such as Nokia, Dell and HP, has made headlines
in recent weeks following
the attempted suicides of approximately 12 workers since the start of
the year.
Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou has made an effort to prove that workers are not
working under sweatshop-like conditions-though even
the
day that Gou led journalists of a tour of the facilities, the alleged 12th
death was later reported.
Rather than grimy conditions, complaints appear to be primarily about
workers facing long hours performing repetitive tasks under military-style
conditions-such as being unable to talk on the job.
Reuters has reported that, in
an attempt to address the issue, Hon Hai Group, which owns Foxconn, has
announced that it plans to raise workers' wages by an average of 20 percent.
Reportedly, workers are currently paid the minimum wage of 900 yuan, or
approximately $132 a month.
"It may help the suicide situation because we workers just need
money, and the financial pressure on us is great," a Foxconn employee told
to Reuters. "Every little bit helps."
Hon Hai revenue in 2009 was approximately $44.56 billion U.S.
According to the
Taipei
Times, Hon Hai's revenue made it first on a list of 20 notebook and panel
manufacturers that all reported 2009 earnings Jan. 8, 2010.
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