Apple has announced that its Wi-Fi and 3G-equipped versions of its iPad tablet computing device will be available in the United States April 30. The April 30 date applies both to customers who pre-ordered an iPad (presumably, before yesterday) as well as to folks wanting to pick up an 3G iPad at an Apple retail store. Apple says it will put the units on sale starting at 5 PM.
The 3G-capable iPads cost $129 more than their WiFi-only counterparts: the 16 Gb version runs $629, the 32 GB version will sell for $729, and the 64 GB edition will sell for $829. AT&T will be offering two 3G data plans for the iPad—250 MB or unlimited connectivity—on a contract-free basis.
The announcement comes on the heels of Apple posting a firm ship date yesterday for new iPad pre-orders, indicating those customers will be receiving their iPads beginning May 7.
Demand for the iPad has already caused Apple to push back the rollout of the iPad in international markets by a month. Although Apple isn’t expected to update any iPad sales figures until it released its next quarterly financial results, Apple says it sold more than 500,000 iPad units in the device’s first week of availability at the beginning of April.
