The Wi-Fi version of the iPad will be available on Saturday, April 3, and several sources are reporting that there is strong demand for the device. The Wall Street Journal says that Apple may have already sold hundreds of thousands of devices and the Brainstorm Tech Blog estimates that 240,000 iPads have been pre-ordered online for delivery. This estimate does not include the number of devices that have been reserved for in-store pickup which is said to be around the same as those ordered online. Morgan Stanley Analyst, Katy Huberty, is predicting that Apple will ship 2.5 million iPads by May and over six million this year.
In addition, Apple is no longer fulfilling new online orders for April 3. According to the Associated Press, all new online orders will be delivered by April 12. Customers who already placed online orders or pre-orders for in-store pickup will still receive their devices this weekend. Apple and Best Buy stores will also have devices for sale on Saturday so customers may be able to acquire a device at the store. The Wi-Fi + 3G model of the iPad is still expected to ship in late April.
