The iPad for Wi-Fi will be available in the U.S. on April 3, and later that month for Wi-Fi plus 3G models, Apple said today.
Pre-orders of the iPad will be taken on March 12, the company said in a statement. All models will be available for pre-order at that time from Apple's online store, or from an Apple retail store for the Wi-Fi model.
The Wi-Fi models first available on April 3 in the U.S. include the $499 model with 16GB, a $599 model with 32GB and a $699 model with 64GB. The dual radio models, for Wi-Fi and 3G available in late April will be priced at $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. The device is 1.5 pounds and 0.5 inches thick.
Apple said the App Store on iPad now includes 12 new apps that will run "almost all" of the 150,000 apps in the App Store, including those already purchased for an iPhone or iPod touch. Apple didn't explain which apps are not supported, however.
Even though AT&T has been identified as the 3G network provider, Apple's statement said the iPad will be sold only through the Apple online store, Apple retail stores and selected Apple authorized resellers, which presumably includes AT&T, although Apple could not be reached to clarify.
Apple said its new iBooks app for iPad, including the iBookstore, will be available as a free download from the App Store on April 3.
Wi-Fi plus 3G models will be available in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and U.K., with added countries later in the year. Pricing for international iPads will be announced in April, the company said.
Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld . Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed@matthamblen or subscribe to . His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com .
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