Target announces it will sell Apple's iPad starting Oct. 3

According to The Associated Press, Target held a press conference at its Minneapolis, Minn., headquarters to announce the sale of the iPad, starting Oct. 3.

Target would carry all six models of the device, including the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB Wi-Fi-only and 3G-capable versions. Customers who have a Target credit card will also be eligible for a 5 percent discount on the device, once the card launches on Oct. 17.

The announcement comes weeks after a leaked photo from a Target store PDA previously revealed the launch date and price points. The store's internal data showed it would sell all six versions of the device, including the 3G model in all three storage capacities.

The previous information indicated that the iPad will be located in the store's "Digital Audio" department, which is the same location where it sells Apple's line of iPods and the Amazon Kindle e-reader.

Previously, the iPad only had widespread retail availability at Apple's own stores, as well as some Best Buy locations. But starting Sunday, the iPad will be available at all Best Buy stores in the U.S.

Earlier this year, Walmart, the largest retailer in the U.S., also indicated it hopes to sell the iPad by the end of 2010.

This week, Apple also began to expand iPad distribution to its third-party retail channel in the U.S. The company's largest distributors now provide all six models of the iPad to authorized resellers across the U.S.