Apple just announced that it will be delaying the international release of their new “it” device, the iPad.  Apple states that the launch will be pushed back to the end of May, with pre-orders starting on May 10th.  Apple says the reason behind the delay is the strong U.S. demand.  Apple says they shipped over 500,000 units in the first week, not only that they said there is also a huge demand for the 3G version that ships later this month in the U.S.  The iPad has been “a runaway success” states Apple.

This is a huge disappointment for Apple fans outside the U.S.  The initial lanuch date was nearing and those that weren’t paying for marked-up iPads on eBay and Craigslist, just needed hold out a bit longer. But this isn’t Apple’s first delay.  If you remember Apple was originally supposed to launch the iPad both domestically and internationally “by the end of March”.  That got switched to a U.S. only April 3rd launch and a International launch at the end of April.  We had even reported back a few weeks ago that there was a April 24th date being tossed around.  The iPad is expected to launch in this order of countries:

Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Spain
Switzerland
United Kingdom

I notice there is no India on the list, I just read that there is a possibility that the iPad wil not launch in India on the first wave of overseas releases.  Some think India will be left out entirely, but we will just have to wait and see.  I’m unsure how this effects international sales, if at all.  We will keep our international readers posted with any news about the date.

[via PC World]