UK and European Apple fans desperate for an iPad only have a couple of months to wait – it looks like the tablet will be arriving at the same time as it does in the USA… possibly.
A representative from Apple told TechCrunch Europe last night that the iPad was on track for a European launch in March.
However, it seems they have backtracked a little since then saying that an official announcement about availability will come a later date.
The Times also reports a March launch for the WiFi-only version of the device, with the 3G version following “as early as April”. If this is the case it looks like European launches are in step with the US release. The Times also repeats rumours from unnamed sources that were rumbling around a few weeks ago – UK mobile operators including Orange are supposedly in talks with Apple to provide 3G connectivity.
While Europe (and the UK in particular) tends to get priority treatment when it comes to Apple launches, it’s worth remembering that Steve Jobs did say that international 3G data deals will hopefully be in place by June. As such, be prepared for a possible wait until the middle of the year for the pricier, 3G-enabled iPad models to be available across the whole of the continent.
If this whole iPad thing has somehow passed you by, take a look at our complete guide to what Steve Jobs announced.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.