AppleInsider Staff
The preorder pages went online slightly early, as Apple had originally announced it would begin taking orders on Monday, May 10, in preparation for a May 28 launch. The international launch was previously delayed from a scheduled late April debut due to stronger than expected demand in the U.S.
Preorders are now being taken through Apple's online stores in Germany, the U.K., Australia, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and France. It will also launch in Canada and Japan on May 28, but as of Sunday evening those nations' sites were not accepting preorders.
As with the U.S. launch, preorders of the iPad are limited to two per customer.
Last Friday, Apple announced an international launch date of May 28 for the nine countries that can now preorder the iPad. Prices for the hardware are as follows:
Wi-Fi-only iPad:
- 16GB - €479 Europe, £429 U.K., $549 Canadian, $629 Australian
- 32GB - €579 Europe, £499 U.K., $649 Canadian, $759 Australian
- 64GB - €679 Europe, £599 U.K., $749 Canadian, $879 Australian
Wi-Fi + 3G iPad
- 16GB - €579 Europe, £529 U.K., $679 Canadian, $799 Australian
- 32GB - €679 Europe, £599 U.K., $779 Canadian, $928 Australian
- 64GB - €779 Europe, £699 U.K., $879 Canadian, $1,049 Australian
The first glimpse at international data plan prices for the 3G model also came last week, when Orange U.K. revealed that it will offer four different pricing options, including a pay-as-you-go price plan. A recurring monthly plan with 3GB of 3G data and unlimited browsing at Wi-Fi hotspots costs £15 ($22.02 U.S.), while a £25 ($36.71 U.S.) plan offers 10GB of monthly bandwidth.
The 9.7-inch touchscreen device will launch in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July, and nine additional countries will be announced at a later date.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
71 Comments
Apple is doomed!?
Apple needs to love Canada more.
Do any of the countries accepting pre-orders NOT say "Delivers by May 28th"?
Taking all bets on when these dates will change as pre-order sales sell out.
It's worth noting that it's not actually a day early. In each of those countries it is May 10. Which is why the iPad is not yet available for pre-order in Canada
It's beginning to look like everybody will have an iPad before the iPad "killers" even make it to market. When you have a brilliant product combined with marketing genius it's pretty hard for others to compete. Some may have a good product but mediocre marketing. Others may have great marketing but a substandard product and you can only pile so much lipstick on a pig.
We'll see what happens when the so-called "killers" become available but it isn't looking good right now for the also rans. One thing is for damn sure, the Apple haters are completely apoplectic at this point. They are so enraged they can't get the words out in the right order. They're looking and sounding pretty pathetic lately, grabbing at any negative news or rumors. Desperation is setting in and, like any cornered animal, they are wildly lashing out.