Two million iPads are in the hands of gadget users in just less than two months, according to Apple. That number is likely to grow further now that iPads are being sold in Europe as of this past weekend. And Apple will likely further polish its bottom line with the announcement of a latest-generation iPhone later in June.
The device has been available in the U.S. since April 3. Apple began shipping iPad in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. on May 30, and will launch the computer in nine more countries in July as well as additional countries later this year.
The iPad falls into the product niche between e-reader and laptop computer. Users can connect with the Internet, download apps, read and send e-mail, view and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, and read ebooks. The device is thinner than a laptop or a netbook, but larger than a PDA. Its price point is roughly half of a Macbook.
Another of Apple's hot selling items, the iPhone, is scheduled for an upgrade this month.
If past experience serves as a guide, Apple will introduce its yearly iPhone upgrade at the Worldwide Developers Conference, June 7 through June 11. Although it has been rumored around the Internet that the upgrade might go on sale as early as June 7, doing so would deviate from Apple precedent of announcing upgrades weeks before their sale date.
