News In Brief

Apple ready to take iPad international

Daryl Paranada May 27, 2010

International fans of Apple’s iPad won’t have to wait much longer to get their hands on the computer tablet. The company is releasing the iPad in nine major international markets – including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.

The device sold more than 1 million tablets in the first month of sales in the U.S. In July, Apple will roll out the tablet to other markets, including Austria, Ireland, Mexico, Singapore and New Zealand. One market not on the list? China.

From CNN:

Apple won’t release sales expectations in international markets, but market researcher IDC forecasts that the company will ship 6 million iPads by the end of the year.
The iPad is the latest in a run of new products, starting with the iPod portable music player in 2001 and the iPhone in 2007, which has helped Apple overtake Microsoft this week as the world’s largest technology company by market value.

Analysts say Apple has done a good job of generating excitement in the tablet computer market. But the ultimate, long-term success of tablet computers like the iPad may come down to how well-developed they make their apps. Some retailers are already trying to figure out how to take advantage of mobile marketing on devices like the iPad. Read that story here.

And read our report on the iPad’s international release.

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