Customers lining up for expanded international launch of Apple's new iPad [u]
Overseas customers have begun lining up as Apple continues its fastest international rollout for the iPad yet with the release of the device in 25 new countries and territories.
Apple announced earlier this month that the second wave of third-generation iPad launches will take place this Friday.
The new tablet will go on sale at 8 a.m. local time in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
With iPad inventory in tight supply after launching just a week ago in 10 countries to "better-than-expected lines," customers have already begun lining up outside retail outlets. Several people on location in Mexico reported long lines outside of stores in the area.
The line for the new iPad in Mexico, via @Wikichava.
Federico Viticci of MacStories reported on Twitter that 60 people had already lined up outside of a store in Italy by 5:40 a.m. local time.
Apple revealed earlier this week that the first weekend of new iPad sales set a new record for the device. The company said it sold over three million units during launch weekend. Wireless carrier AT&T announced that it had set a single-day record for iPad sales and activations last Friday.
Wall Street is generally optimistic that the accelerated rollout of the iPad to new countries will provide an upside to their current estimates for the March quarter. A number of investment firms have raised their forecasts for the iPad in response to the strength of the launch. For instance, Evercore Partners' Rob Cihra upped his estimate for the first quarter of calendar 2012 from 10 million to 13 million iPad units.
Update: An earlier version of this article contained a different photo. That image has been taken down at the request of the owner.
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Comments
Apple plz
The experience in the first round of countries was that getting in line was not ultimately necessary.
But it would have been if they hadn't been available for preorder online.
The experience in the first round of countries was that getting in line was not ultimately necessary.
Have you ever tried to connect with 3-5 million customers in 10 + countries in a single weekend? Then, a week later, repeat in another 10 + countries...
The Super Bowl, at maximum, has about 100 thousand attendees [connections] in one day, in one country -- and that builds up over months -- not days! Then, it's over for a year!
But it would have been if they hadn't been available for preorder online.
As far as I know there is no preorders available in any of these new countries. In fact anyone who offered a preorder here in Finland was stopped by Apple.
The online Apple Store only today allows purchasing the new iPad.
That said I still got one today, but they were down to 3 remaining for that model.
The experience in the first round of countries was that getting in line was not ultimately necessary.
People don't usually stand in lines because they are worried they won't get it. They almost always do it for the fun factor.
E.g., anyone think that music stores would run out of the second Lady Gaga album on the first day? Yet there were huge lines outside multiple stores of Gaga fans.
The experience in the first round of countries was that getting in line was not ultimately necessary.
.... they are like hens teeth where I live in England
People don't usually stand in lines because they are worried they won't get it. They almost always do it for the fun factor.
E.g., anyone think that music stores would run out of the second Lady Gaga album on the first day? Yet there were huge lines outside multiple stores of Gaga fans.
They also want it ASAP.
People don't usually stand in lines because they are worried they won't get it. They almost always do it for the fun factor.
Are you implying geeks on a tech oriented message boards would be puzzled by an inherently social activity?
Say it isn't so!
I went to the store at 12 noon local time, thinking that it was too late to find it, but there was no queue, and all models were available.
But it would have been if they hadn't been available for preorder online.
People don't usually stand in lines because they are worried they won't get it. They almost always do it for the fun factor.
E.g., anyone think that music stores would run out of the second Lady Gaga album on the first day? Yet there were huge lines outside multiple stores of Gaga fans.
Have you ever tried to connect with 3-5 million customers in 10 + countries in a single weekend? Then, a week later, repeat in another 10 + countries...
The Super Bowl, at maximum, has about 100 thousand attendees [connections] in one day, in one country -- and that builds up over months -- not days! Then, it's over for a year!
I think ascii's point is valid. Unlike other iDevice releases they seem to have more supply than demand so you don't have to queue up early to make sure you get an iPad before that day/weekend shipment sells out.
No queues here in Belgium
Wrong. Here's an article with pictures of the queue in Gent, Belgium. http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/det...T_20120323_001
Still no avaliablity in India
Apple plz
((((((((((India))))))))))
Wrong. Here's an article with pictures of the queue in Gent, Belgium. http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/det...T_20120323_001
You account 40 people in 1 shop in an area where there is no alternative to that shop as a queue?