Apple delays international iPad rollout until end of May, pre-orders to start May 10
Apple has just announced they are delaying the international release of the iPad by a month, from the end of April until the end of May, with pre-orders beginning May 10.
Although we have delivered more than 500,000 iPads during its first week, demand is far higher than we predicted and will likely continue to exceed our supply over the next several weeks as more people see and touch an iPad™. We have also taken a large number of pre-orders for iPad 3G models for delivery by the end of April.
Faced with this surprisingly strong US demand, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the international launch of iPad by one month, until the end of May. We will announce international pricing and begin taking online pre-orders on Monday, May 10. We know that many international customers waiting to buy an iPad will be disappointed by this news, but we hope they will be pleased to learn the reason—the iPad is a runaway success in the US thus far.
We're happy for Apple and for US customers, but we'd be lying if we didn't say we're bummed for those waiting impatiently in the rest of the world. For international customers who bought US models, we're also less than thrilled that we'll now have to wait another month for the on-device iPad App Store to be turned on. (Currently non-US iTunes account holders can't buy apps on the iPad itself, they have to be bought in iTunes and synced over).
UPDATE: Vodafone, Orange, and O2 in the UK, and Rogers in Canada have announced... that they'll be announcing price plans for the iPad 3G in late May as well.
UPDATE 2: Steve Jobs has once again responded to customer emails, confirming iPad 3G will ship alongside iPad Wi-Fi in late May.
Sound off in comments!
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
| Tweet |
|
|
← Previously
Quick review: Flight Control HD for iPadLeave a Reply
Note: Comments must be civil, respectful, and on-topic. If a comment does not add to the conversation, if it contains spam advertising, or inappropriate language or content, it will be removed. Insulting the topic, author, staff, site, network, or other commenters will result in the comment being marked as spam and potential prevent future comments from appearing on the site. Do not post as a business or your comment will likely be confused with spam. Comments containing links may be held for moderation. Relax, enjoy, and share in the discussion.
Sad, Apple, very sad.
thats sum bull sh*t
Isn't this getting a bit close to iPhone time?? I wonder if the iPhone sales will be affected by this? Providing of course there is a new iPhone. Lol.
I am just hoping it doesn't affect the 3G orders for the US...
I doubt this will have any effect at all on the new iPhone - this is all shipping and sales stuff. I was worried about any efefcts on US 3G as well... WANTS!
Is this for every country, or just some chosen ones (I live in Norway)?
I'm in Australia. I have no reason to buy an iPad, as I already have an iPhone and a MacBook, but I just want 2 things. Pricing, and to play with one at an Apple Store. Can't apple just ship 12 ipads to australia, nail them to the desks in the 6 apple stores here (thats right, we only have 6 compared to the hundreds in the US) and let us at least play with them. Shame that the US loves them so much and they get all the love. But I guess it happened with the iPhone and how Australia didn't even get the original one, but then again our networks were too far ahead in implementing 3g that nobody would buy a 2g iphone to use in Australia. I'll end my rant now!
I wasn't planning to buy one... So can't say I'm displeased with Apple's decision. I mean come on.. were they thinking they were only going to sell 5 or 10 of these. People would buy anything Apple and they should have known better. I'm with Luke on this (see comment above).. I have me iPhone and also, am planning to buy the new 2010 Macbook... Don't think I want to carry a third gadget around. Who knows, that might change when I actually see one but at this time, iPad gets no love from me.
That being said, I'm bummed that all the people and the developers waiting for this device all around the world will have to wait. Sorry fellas....
Wow, Steve just said at the OS 4 event that late April was still a go. I really hope this doesn't affect the US iPad 3G launch. I've been waiting...
If I wasn't afraid to sell stuff to international ebay user, I'd buy one and sell it on ebay.
Delays... delays and more delays... Apple is making a habit of delays.
http://www.diverse-group.com/menu/blog.html
I was just saying to my girlfriend this morning, that I was going to put my initial first day iPad buy on hold as I need a new digital camera firstly, and also, new iPhone just round the corner.
This nails it. Will definitely wait till later on this year now until after iPhone G4 and O.S. 4.0 arrives on the iPad.
I can't for the life of me understand why this thing is so popular. If you've got an iPhone and a laptop, there's nothing the ipad can do better than the combination of those two devices. Oh well to each his own I guess.
NO NO NO! This can't be happening! Another month?! And the release date for the Netherlands (Western-Europe) is still To Be Announced
I'm going to cry.
hahahahaha
okay, I'm not crying, but I'm disapointed :p
That's a pain. I was waiting for the 3G iPad to come out in the UK, then I could have bought one in Belfast and brought it back to the Republic of Ireland. Now I'm gonna have to get my American relatives to send me one from there!
So glad I got a relative to mail me an iPad to the UK on launch day.
Does it definitely follow that this one month availability delay impacts the on-device app store by the same time frame? Must they happen simultaneously?
I am so bloody annoyed. 5 Months I've been waiting. I guess the prices will be annouced on the 10th for Pre orders. Stupid Apple
Hello from Tokyo.Expected demand from Japan could of been the last straw. Don't be fooled. Apple sales here are firing on all 8 cylinders. I see people on the train here with iphones or ipod touches every d*** day here. Last weekend got in one car of an 18 car train in central Tokyo. Across from me,three people each had an iphone and one had an ipod touch.
Yes,many Japanese do like Apple products here.
As a developer I am pleased the iPad is delayed due to its success as that means demand is high, and therefore there will be a lot of users wanting to buy Apps. As a European based developer I am frustrated that the iPad is delayed as I really want to get my hands on one to test out our iPad App. I was really hoping for the April date, but I couldn't see it happening, even after Steve Jobs said last Thursday it was still on track.
I am just fed up with being the poor relation to the USA all the time! Ah well, but I do wish apple would disclose what the prices are going to be in the UK as I can get one from a relative in the USA but wonder what the exchange rate will do, any ideas?
this says to me they are delaying to meet existing orders over the pond, not fair! :/
Home market first, everyone else can suck it. Thanks Steve. :/
Just checked out the window, the world has not ended.
Never posted on here but this news made me!
Apple - that is just ridiculous. Are you telling me one of the biggest companies in the world failed to get a date right TWICE in a row? And why the hell are Americans being favoured over International customers? This is pure crap!!!
Ive always respected apple and love its products- but Steve im losing hope. We were lied to in the OS4 event!
To top it off we will probably get the crappest price deals alive - with 18 month 3g contracts. Can count on it! Been looking forward to buying the iPad- but Apple- you've pissed me off!!!
So the rep on the phone was correct yesterday then.
And the shortage of generated by high demand only pushes demand higher as hype builds.
In the meantime Analysts are bumping their estimates for Apple stock to 300 or more. http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/04/14/estimates.ride.iphone.ipad.mac.sales/
(Even tho I won't be buying an iPad any time soon, I did buy the stock a few months ago before the iPad was released).
They released it according to the calendar (Spring, 10 days before OS 4, etc.) not according to the manufacturing capacity. There was always the chance demand would be underwhelming. But here we are again (as with iPhone) - manufacturingis going to habe to catch up to demand. Better than having a warehouse of stuff you can't sell -- and so, the stock price.
Man I should have bought AAPL last year.
This makes me sad
that sucks.. But hey, if people can wait for more than 5 years for an Apple tablet, then they can wait for more than 30 days for their iPad. At least be happy that there's now an iPad. Suck it up people!
Edie, we can't wait all the time.
I hope the entry price will be 449 EUR, even though it should be 399 EUR (as that's the 'correct' price if you convert the iPad price (+VAT) to euros.
This is extremely dissapponting. I was looking foward to a new iPad.
Anyone mind sending me one from Usa? Il pay for shipping and iPad
Now the Japanese know how we feel when we get their cell phones a year later.
My guess is that the delay is really about fixing the WiFi problems.
First off I was really gutted that I would have to wait another month. But as so many are having problems with Wi Fi, I'm sure there will be a few other issues that will arise before we get our hands on them in the UK So I'm more than happy for you to be the test bed for the rest of us
Hahah...Another case of jealousy which will get you nowhere. Apple isn't really apologizing. The folks at Cupertino, California, U.S.A., must be enthralled to announce that it can barely keep up with demand domestically, and that it cannot produce iPad's fast enough for international customers. They're barely going to make the late-April date for 3G iPad's for the U.S.
Talk about a good problem to have for Apple!
I'm with Mr. Metro Tokyo up there. I spent ten minutes today across the street from the Ginza store yelling "Cowards!" I know that the people in the US are clearly enjoying the iPad, but here's the deal, Steve: it will sell for more in Japan. The average Apple product nets between $50-400 more due to conversion, and I would think that Apple US would want to capitalize on that before the dollar gets any stronger. Don't make us wait any longer!
wow, cool and amazing! Apple have win the first war! Just read this article "iPad's Success In US Delays Overseas Launch--AGAIN " on huffingtonpost. As iPad seen as a great portable video game device, well , I think ipad brings more for us. Okay, if wanna learn more info about Apple iPad tablet, its video & audio formats, review, tips and tutorials, can go to iFunia ipad column.