A Look At International Prices For The Apple iPad

Apple initially planned to begin selling the popular iPad internationally by the end of April. But demand in the U.S. was so strong -- sales passed the 1-million unit mark 28 days after it first hit the market -- Apple pushed back the day they would go on sale outside of the U.S.

Last week Apple announced that the iPad would go on sale in nine countries on May 28 with consumers able to pre-order them starting today. The mobile device will be available in Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland.

The online Apple Store Web site for each country offers the iPad in six configurations: 16-, 32- and 64-GB versions for the iPad with Wi-Fi, and the same capacities for the iPad with WiFi and 3G capabilities.

In Britain, for example, the Apple Store Web site has the iPad with WiFi and 16 GB of capacity priced at 429 British Pounds while the top-of-the-line model with WiFi and 3G and 64 GB of capacity costs 699 pounds.

In Australia the six iPad models range in price from A$629 for the 16 GB WiFi model up to A$1,049. In Canada the range is $549 to $879 Canadian.

Prices in France and in Germany are quite close with starting prices set at 499 Euros in both countries. But prices for the 64-GB models are 15 Euros higher in Germany, likely due to local taxes which are included in the posted prices.

In July the iPad will go on sale in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherland, New Zealand and Singapore.