Apple’s iPad (s aapl) is now available internationally, a full 53 days after its original U.S. debut.
This Friday morning early adopters around the world queued up in a bid to get their hands on the long-awaited tablet device. Many of Apple’s retail stores decided to open an hour earlier than usual. The doors opened as planned, ready to serve the scores of awaiting anticipated Apple shoppers that had formed queues from the very early hours of the morning.
Shoppers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK can now get their hands on the device. In the UK a basic 16GB Wi-Fi model can be picked up for £429.99, the same model is priced at $549 for Canadian customers, whereas German consumers can grab a new iPad from €499. More international pricing details for the iPad can be found on your country’s Apple store website.
For those not in the countries outlined above, Apple has detailed that more countries will receive the 9.7-inch device at some unknown point in July. Today’s more widespread global availability comes after Apple had to delay the international launch due to the overwhelming debut the tablet enjoyed in the U.S..
Reports regarding the tablet’s global launch have started to roll-in, detailing the reception Apple’s device has garnered. Several hundred people were queuing outside Apple’s flagship UK store according to UK tech publication The Register. Similar scenes were reported at Spain’s Munich store, where 9to5Mac described the launch event as manic. Apple fans in Japan apparently started queuing days in advance according to a TUAW report.
Following today’s global launch Steve Jobs will no doubt detail how the international launch fared at the upcoming WWDC next month with some early sales figures.
Related GigaOM Pro Research: Hot Topic: Apple’s iPad
