On the same day that Apple launched its newest iPad tablet, the company also sold its 1 millionth iPad, less than a month after the device’s debut.

Apple officials announced May 3 that the company sold its millionth iPad April 30, and that iPad users had to that point downloaded more than 12 million applications from the App Store and more than 1.5 million ebooks from Apples new iBookstore.

“One million iPads in 28 days — that’s less than half the 74 days it took to achieve this mileston with the iPhone,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. “Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”

That demand was highlighted April 30, when Apple launched the newest iPad tablet with both WiFi access and 3G connectivity via AT&T. Officials with Apple retail locations in major cities said they sold out of the iPad 3G models by May 2.

In a May 2 research note, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster estimated that Apple sold about 300,000 iPad 3Gs over the weekend, including preordered units and online sales.

With estimates based on checks with 50 Apple stores—49 of which reported being out of stock of 3G models by Sunday—Munster believes Apple has likely now sold more than 1 million iPads in total.

In May 2009, Munster was among the very first to report that Apple was at work on a slatelike device, which at the time he estimated would run between $500 and $700. Today, Apple sells six versions of the iPad—three with WiFi only and three with WiFi and 3G—with pricing from $499 to $829. On May 3, all six were listed on the Apple site as shipping not within 24 hours but “within 5 – 7 business days.”

Customers on the Apple site are limited to purchases of just two devices.

Just as Apple is known for modest financial projections—enjoying a wow factor on a then expectation-exceeding delivery—it’s unclear just how well it stocked its stores.

The newest iPad went on sale April 30 at 5 p.m. at the New York flagship store, and a spokeswoman for Best Buy said the store had “very limited inventory” for sale that afternoon, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Munster, however, wrote that the sold-out supplies were likely due to strong demand coupled with lower-than-intended supply.

“Near-term, this may put downward pressure on launch day/weekend statistics, but long-term we see it as a positive, as consumers are definitely interested in the iPad as a new category,” wrote Munster. “In the first several quarters, we believe Apple will sell about 60 percent WiFi-only iPads and 40 percent 3G models.”

At eBay.com, a May 3 search for iPads turned up more than 1,800 matched listings, more than 1,200 of which were WiFi-only models—which suggests that the same early supporters who rushed to buy the WiFi-only model may be ready to pass on their iPad and be amongst the first Apple fans with an iPad 3G.

Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall, who headlined an April 22 report “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees? Try the Apple Tree,” raised his calendar year 2010 revenue estimates for Apple to $62.6 billion, up from $57.9 billion.

“Once again, we highlight our view that Apple remains the best technology company on the planet with numerous catalysts on the horizon—e.g., international iPhone ramp, iPad ramp, emerging recurring revenue stream, etc.—and no business model issues,” Marshall wrote.

The firm has noted the potential for swift iPad sales from the start, with Marshall writing in a March research note, before the WiFi-only iPad’s launch, that early consensus of the device was “overly pessimistic,” and that, were the iPad to “live up to its potential, we believe actual unit shipments could approach 7 million-plus units in [2010].”

Resource:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Apple-iPad-Sales-Reach-1-Million-814397/

The company began selling the iPad 3G in the U.S. late Friday afternoon. The starting prices for the 3G mode were $629 (with 16 gigabytes of memory), compared to $499 starting price for the Wi-Fi only version that started selling a month ago. The reports are a good sign for Apple, which may or may not snag mainstream consumers with the iPad. Another good sign is that Apple has delayed its overseas launch of the iPad as it tries to meet demand in the U.S.

The 3G version sold an estimated 300,000 units over the weekend, according to Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co. (The analyst made a more conservative estimate this time, as his estimate for the Wi-Fi only version was off the market by a few hundred thousand). Apple hasn’t provided its own sales figures, but Best Buy said it sold out of its limited inventory of models as of Sunday.

The Wi-Fi only iPad sold about 300,000 units during its opening weekend, although that device went on sale on a Saturday. Munster estimates that Apple has sold more than a million iPads altogether. While that’s a lot less than other big product launches (game consoles, for instance), it is a very respectable number for a tablet computer, which is a new category of device that consumers aren’t familiar with yet.

It will be very interesting to see if Apple can sustain sales of the iPad as rival tablet computers come on the market. Amazon has been beefing up its Kindle e-book reader, but models from players such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard (which just bought Palm in part so it can use its WebOS operating system in tablet computers and phones), aren’t hitting the market immediately.

Apple thus has a chance to grab a lot of the early adopter market for itself. If it really wants to sell a lot of units, it will probably have to consider cutting prices. The most expensive 3G model with 64 gigabytes of memory sells for $829. You can bet that clone makers will launch tablets that come in well under that price. Forrester Research estimates that Apple will sell 3 million iPads this year. Customers for the iPad 3G version will likely shell out extra money to get a data plan with AT&T, but the terms aren’t that tough, as no contract is required. AT&T is charging $14.99 a month for 250 megabytes of data and $29.99 a month for unlimited data.

Resource:
http://mobile.venturebeat.com/2010/05/02/apples-ipad-3g-model-gets-off-to-a-good-start/

Apple plans to release the iPad 3G on April 30 to those who have preordered the device and shoppers who plan to pick one up at the company’s retail locations. Now that a launch date has finally been confirmed, it’s time for consumers who have yet to order an iPad to consider which version of Apple’s tablet they really want. Admittedly, it’s a difficult decision. Both devices have advantages and, depending on a how a consumer plans to use the tablet, opting for the cheaper WiFi-only version might be a good bet.

But for potential iPad owners who are still on the fence and can’t quite decide which version to pick up, we’re going to make it really easy for you: the iPad 3G. As nice as the WiFi-only version of the iPad is, it will look like the hobbled cousin of the 3G version once that’s released next week. Owners should be able to get much more out of the 3G version than the WiFi-only model. It might be more expensive, but the iPad 3G is the best bet both for consumers and for enterprise customers.

Here’s why:

1. It’s 3G

   Let’s just get the obvious point out of the way: The iPad 3G allows users to connect to a high-speed Web connection wherever 3G networking from AT&T is available. That’s important. Currently, owners of the WiFi-only iPad can only connect to the Web whenever they’re within range of a wireless hot spot. That means no checking e-mail in the car or surfing the Web at a park. If nothing else, 3G connectivity provides users with options that the WiFi-only version doesn’t. That’s a major selling point for many consumers.

2. Look toward the future

   Although Apple will support both versions of the iPad, the 3G model future-proofs consumers. What Apple and developers have planned for the iPad is unknown. They could offer new features or interesting new applications that would accommodate owners of both versions of the tablet. But there’s a stronger possibility that as time goes on, Apple will only offer improvements to 3G owners. It followed a similar strategy with the iPhone in an attempt to move consumers to the newest version of the mobile phone. What would stop it from doing the same thing with the iPad?

3. Productivity

   If a consumer plans to use the iPad as more than just a Web-surfing tool, the 3G version is the best choice. As Apple has said time and again, it wants to make the iPad an alternative to current mobile computers, like netbooks or lightweight laptops. Users can type up documents, create spreadsheets and perform several other tasks. But having the option of connecting to the Web wherever a 3G connection is available will increase the user’s productivity. Sure, a WiFi-only model would be similar to using a desktop or a standard laptop, but 3G increases productivity beyond that.

4. You’re an enterprise customer

   Although the iPad looks like a consumer-focused device, it has some uses for company employees. The device is readily mobile, its virtual keyboard works well enough to get work done and, thanks to 3G, employees can be online at any point in the day. The corporate world will find a lot to gripe about when it comes to the iPad, but it might also like what it sees in some cases. If an enterprise customer is looking to use the iPad at work, the 3G version is the only option.

5. More app possibilities

   Part of the value of owning an iPad is the access to Apple’s App Store. Since the iPad comes without several apps users might want, the App Store quickly becomes the go-to place to find all the functionality that Apple doesn’t bundle with its device. In many cases, that means needing a connection to the Web for the app to work as described. When a user is home, connecting to the Web via WiFi isn’t any trouble and using such apps is a cinch. But when away from WiFi, only a 3G connection will be able to keep the iPad as functional as a user wants.

6. More GPS ability

   Unlike the WiFi-only version of the iPad, the 3G model comes with full GPS functionality. As soon as a user boots up the iPad 3G and works on it away from a WiFi hot spot, GPS satellites will be able to pinpoint its location. The WiFi-only model, on the other hand, uses known WiFi hot spots to find a user’s location. Although that’s better than nothing, it doesn’t truly pinpoint the exact spot at any given time for use with location-based apps. That might not be a deal breaker, but given the recent popularity of location-based services, more users than we think might want to have their exact locations broadcast to the rest of the world.

7. 3G coverage is optional

   The beauty of the iPad 3G is that users aren’t forced to enter into a contract when they buy the device. So, if users decide that 3G might be useful down the road, but for now they will be content with WiFi only, they can still buy an iPad 3G. If or when they decide they want to connect to the Web via 3G, they need only pay $15 per month for up to 250MB of data or $30 per month for unlimited data. And they can cancel that service at any time. Not bad.

8. The WiFi-only version won’t be supported for long

   If we consider Apple’s history with mobile products, it becomes clear that the underpowered, old models that it once offered are quickly phased out in favor of new, capable versions of the respective device. Remember the iPhone 2G? Yeah, it’s history. And since multitasking will only make its way to the iPhone 3GS, it looks like Apple is trying to push users to the newer version of its mobile phone. Apple has a long history of doing that. The iPad won’t be any different.

9. The time factor

   The iPad 3G has been in the cooker a month longer than the WiFi-only version of the tablet. That’s important. Lest we forget, the WiFi iPad suffered from connectivity issues that Apple is still attempting to address. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the 3G model won’t suffer from those problems too, but given the fact that Apple has known about it for a month, it’s entirely possible that a fix has already been implemented in the 3G model. The same can be said for any other quirks Apple might have found along the way. The WiFi-only iPad might be a robust offering, but the 3G version will likely be a little better.

10. This is Apple we’re talking about

    If Microsoft was offering two versions of the same product, getting the hobbled model probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. That company has a long history of supporting products until it really shouldn’t. But Apple doesn’t. Steve Jobs has made it clear with every product his company offers that the most expensive versions of that device will get preferential treatment over the cheaper versions. It makes sense. Apple can make much more off the more expensive models. Plus, by only giving desired features to the more capable versions, Apple is softly prodding customers to move to the new product. Apple doesn’t like less capable products. That will quickly become clear with the WiFi-only version of the iPad.

Resource:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/10-Reasons-to-Go-for-iPad-3G-Instead-of-WiFi-132985/

Apple announced on Tuesday that the 3G-enabled iPad would arrive for those who have pre-ordered it on Friday April 30, the same day that it will make its appearance in stores.

The rush will begin at 5 p.m. at Apple Stores, most Best Buy locations, some Apple Authorized Resellers, and campus bookstores. As with the Wi-Fi models, you’ll be able to set up your iPad in the store for free with the help of an Apple employee.

The 3G model weighs just slightly more than its Wi-Fi-only sibling, coming in at 1.6 pounds to the other model’s 1.5. That and a small black plastic antenna window along the top of the unit are the only real hardware differences between the two. However, for those minor differences you’ll pay an additional $130. The 3G iPads come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models and sell for $629, $729, and $829 respectively.

While some have wondered about the impact the 3G capability will have on the iPad’s otherwise stellar battery life, Apple is promising nine hours of battery life while browsing the Web on 3G.

As previously discussed, you’ll be able to subscribe to and manage 3G service from the device itself, with your choice of two plans from AT&T: a $15 per month plan limiting you to 250MB of data and a $30 per month plan of unlimited usage. Unlike the iPhone, you can subscribe to and cancel 3G service whenever you like.

Resource:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/194583/3genabled_ipad_arrives_april_30.html

Apple said April 14 that it had delivered more than 500,000 iPads during the tablet PC’s first week of general release, exceeding the company’s internal predictions. The demand reflected by those sales, coupled with “a large number of preorders for iPad 3G models for delivery by the end of April,” has led to a postponement in the iPad’s international launch.

“We know that many international customers waiting to buy an iPad will be disappointed by this news,” read a statement posted on Apple’s Website, “but we hope they will be pleased to learn the reason—the iPad is a runaway success in the United States thus far.”

Apple had previously announced, during an April 8 news conference at the company’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, that about 450,000 iPads were sold in the first five days. During that conference, Apple CEO Steve Jobs also said about 600,000 iBooks and 3.5 million applications had been downloaded by new iPad owners. Those 450,000 iPads included the 300,000 units sold by midnight on April 3, the device’s first day of general release.

According to a March 29 research note from Morgan Stanley, Apple could ship as many as 8 million to 10 million iPads in 2010, and sell around 2 million of those. “Near-term, we believe the iPad will target the sizable sub-$800 consumer notebook market, which equates to 30 million units in the United States and 120 million units globally,” analyst Katy Huberty wrote. A robust application ecosystem, paired with strong interest in TV shows and e-books offered specifically for the iPad, could potentially increase the device’s sales momentum.

Research company iSuppli has also suggested that Apple could sell as many as 7.1 million iPads in 2010.

Blogger and analyst Daniel Tello, in conjunction with members of InvestorVillage’s AAPL Sanity forum, calculated in early March that Apple might have sold 120,000 iPads during the device’s first day of preorder availability, March 12, and that 69 percent of preorder customers were gravitating toward the WiFi-only version of the device.

Apple will face a wide variety of tablet PC competitors later in the year, including a device by Hewlett-Packard that features a combination of inward-facing VGA Webcam and outward-facing 3-megapixel camera for video conferencing and image-taking. The HP Slate will retail for between $549 and $599, and will run Windows 7. Similar devices, including a much-rumored Google Android tablet, may also try to make a competitive differentiator out of featuring a camera module, which is not included in the current version of the iPad.

The iPad may also run the risk of breakability. In an April 9 e-mail to eWEEK, Aaron Vronko, co-founder and service manager of Michigan-based Rapid Repair, predicted that 5 to 10 percent of the devices would fail due to “accident-related causes” each year.

“Physics are not in the tablet’s favor,” Vronko wrote. “While the fragile parts of the iPad are no less durable than their iPhone counterparts, a 10-inch and 24-ounce device is just a much bigger target for accidental collisions and generates many times more force in a fall.” Competing device manufacturers, however, do not have access to the voluminous life-cycle data from the iPhone and iPod Touch that Apple could use to make the iPad more durable.

Resource:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Apple-Delivered-500000-iPads-In-First-Week-Pressuring-Supply-402820/