Neil HughesAnalyst Katy Huberty with Morgan Stanley indicated that iPad builds recently increased to 2 million per month, up from the previous number of just 1 million a month. Apple allegedly indicated to its suppliers that it would like to produce 3 million a month starting in the fourth calendar quarter of 2010.
It's likely not coincidental that less than a week ago, iPad shipping times for new orders from apple.com improved to 24 hours. For months, customers had to wait an estimated 7 to 10 days, as Apple was surprised by strong demand for the device when it launched in April.
Officials with the company admitted they were initially caught off guard by the demand for the iPad after it launched, and they were unsure when they would be able to satisfy that demand. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook noted that the iPad is not taking a typical early adopter curve, and already has a "very big" market.
"We want to take full advantage of it, and so we are investing enormous time and resources in increasing our capability in getting iPad out to as many people as we can," Cook said in July.
Despite strong demand, Huberty reiterated that the iPad has not cannibalized sales of Macs. She noted that U.S. Mac sales are tracking up 20 to 25 percent year over year, and have been accelerating in recent weeks.
In June, it was estimated that Apple was producing a total of 1.2 million iPads per month. That was up from 800,000-900,000 units in May, 700,000 units in April, 470,000 units in March, and 300,000 in February. At the time, it was projected that Apple could produce as many as 2.5 million per month in time for the 2010 holidays.
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And still we haven't got them in Norway or Scandinavia (except for the vacation shoppers). Also 3 weeks waiting time for iPhone 4 on Apple Store (5 weeks if you buy it through Telenor, the biggest cell network).
After OS 4.2 is released, it will be open season for the holiday gifts and corporate demands for the iPad. When large corporations go into full deployment next year, massive production capacity will be needed.
Go Apple... Go, go, go...
In theory this should quieten the doubters who claimed that the reason for the 'catch up' was a decline in demand. Apple are working ahead to launch in more countries and still seem to be only just matching demand in those countries where the pad is available.
I wonder where the analysts, experts (and trolls) who claimed this device would struggle to sell more than two million units in its first year are now?
No camera, no flash, no {insert port, service or function here}...
That's the theory at least, but wait for the posts below where people continue to complain about the device, tell us why we shouldn't like it, shouldn't buy it, list what it can't do and why we're being forced to buy it in the millions.
Apple are doomed!®
So Techsud aka Blackintosh was right ... it is a total failure. It will never catch on as it has too few geek featues. Of course with Windows 7 mobile the HP Slate and MS dual screen slate will rule. I should sell all my AAPL and run for the hills ... wait a minute ... 2 or 3 million a month??
Hmmm it doesn't quite make sense to me.
If Apple was making one million a month but selling two million, wouldn't there be a 30 day delay after one month, a 60 day delay after two months, etc.?
It wouldn't be possible to stay consistently 7 days behind if they always sold more than they made.