Wait a while longer for iPad in India

Craving an Apple iPad? It will be some time before the device becomes available in the Indian market.

Craving an Apple iPad? It will be some time before the device becomes available in the Indian market.

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The product, pegged between a smartphone and a laptop, was officially launched in the US market on Saturday. Prices in the US start at $499 (Rs 22,000) and the most advanced model costs $829 (Rs 36,500).

“iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year,” said an official release.

Industry observers in the US believe the iPad could well outsell the Apple iPhone, launched in 2007. However, considering how price sensitive the Indian market is, the iPad may remain limited to the upper middle class segment.

Experts believe it would create a niche market for itself and emerge as a lifestyle product and not a mass product in India.