Apple iPad sales hit 1 million in less than a month

It took only 28 days for the iPad to sell 1 million copies. The Apple iPhone took twice as long.

|
Ryan Anson/AFP
The Apple iPad tablet aims to be part e-reader, part laptop.

Magical? Maybe. Popular? Definitely.

Apple announced Monday that it has sold 1 million of its new iPad tablet computers. Aided by the launch of the iPad 3G, the company hit the record Friday -- just 28 days after the device went on sale.

“One million iPads in 28 days -- that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone,” says Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a statement. “Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”

Tech analysts forecasted a much slower start for the iPad. Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst told Reuters that he foresaw Apple taking months to reach 1 million sales. The iPad is a "game-changer," he now tells Reuters. "This is a product that could really redefine how we consume a lot of content."

A month after the original launch of the iPhone in June 2007, AT&T counted 146,000 running on its network. Wall Street consensus expected a number several times larger. But from this sluggish beginning, Apple picked up considerable speed. Just a few months later, the iPhone and iPod Touch collectively became the fastest-adopted gadgets in history.

Could the iPad follow a similar trajectory? More clues will arrive later this month, when the iPad goes on sale internationally.

---

Are you one of the million iPad users? Are you happy with your purchase? Let us know in the comments.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Apple iPad sales hit 1 million in less than a month
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Horizons/2010/0503/Apple-iPad-sales-hit-1-million-in-less-than-a-month
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe