Sam OliverUpdate: Apple issued an official press release Wednesday morning announcing the expansion of the iPad 2 to 12 new countries. The second-generation device will be sold in Japan on Thursday, while the remaining countries will be able to purchase it this Friday.
The IPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores at 9 a.m. local time, select Apple Authorized Resellers, and online through the Apple Store beginning at 1 a.m.
The iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will also be available in China beginning Friday, May 6.
Earlier Wednesday, business daily Nikkei (subscription required) said the iPad 2 is set to be available this week at the seven retail stores run by Apple in Japan. In addition, customers in the Land of the Rising Sun will also be able to buy the touchscreen tablet at SoftBank stores, and via Apple's website.
The iPad 2 was originally set to launch in Japan along with 25 other countries on March 25, but Apple delayed that launch after the deadly earthquake disaster. The company said the delay would allow its teams to focus on recovery, rather than launching a new product.
Following the massive tragedy in Japan, Apple's retail stores were said to have become a rallying point for citizens. Crowds reportedly flocked to Apple's stores to gain INternet access, and recharge their phones so they could make calls and reach loved ones.
Malcolm Owen
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24 Comments
going to Verizon to pick one up.
The iPad 1 poster at my local reseller was being changed just after they closed this evening... Here we go.
No mailing from Apple about it, yet...Apple USA's homepage has the announcement about the White iPhone and the iPad 2 in Japan tomorrow. Apple Japan still hasn't updated their homepage. Come on...!
Pricing for Malaysia:
http://www.machines.com.my/ipad2.html
($1 USD = 3 RM)
Awesome! Good to see Apple hasn't completely ignored India this time around. The original iPad was launched only in January this year, and the iPhone 4 is still not available.
The latest laptops/iMacs etc. generally show up within a week or two, and now the iPad2 has joined the list. Hope the trend continues.
The iPad 1 poster at my local reseller was being changed just after they closed this evening... Here we go.
No mailing from Apple about it, yet...
Apple USA's homepage has the announcement about the White iPhone and the iPad 2 in Japan tomorrow. Apple Japan still hasn't updated their homepage. Come on...!
Hi Berger, how are you doing? What's your plan in obtaining the iPad 2? How is Japan? Sounds crazy over there... Japan online store should have it available within the next hour or so, right?
Just curious...