The iPad launch day is now behind us. It was an eventful day where we saw long lineups at Apple stores across the US, the first iPad to be smashed with a baseball bat and the first iPad to be jailbroken. But in all this buzz, all I want to know is: how many were sold?
According to initial reports, first day iPad sales actually beat first day iPhone sales. According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, between 600,000 and 700,00 Apple tablets were sold on April 3rd. First day iPhone sales had hit 270,000 the day it launched.
But it wont stop there. With many countries getting the iPad later this month, analysts are predicting sales could reach 7M by the end of the year. Growth will continue in 2011 and 2012 as new iPad apps hit the market and Apple improves the devices functionality and lowers its price, predicts the research firm iSuppli.
The firm also said that sales could climb even higher than predicted. “Key to continuing success will be how quickly Apple responds to issues as they arise and whether the company can align suppliers to meet demand needs”, said Rhoda Alexander, iSuppli’s director of monitor research in a statement.
Even if the iPad seems to have instant success, Apple will also need to keep and eye on its competition. Other vendors will soon unveil their own tablets, which could offer stronger features for some consumers. However, as the first company to enter the low-cost tablet market, Apple will enjoy a strong advantage for now.
[Photo: MercuryNews]
