Apple iPad went on sale in 9 foreign countries on Friday 28 May 2010
Apple shares continued its advance even though shares other companies including Microsoft, Google, HP, IBM, Yahoo, eBay, Adobe, Amazon fell. Apple now leads Microsoft by US$7 billion in terms of market capitalisation.
Maintaining the momentum through the anticipated release of the new iPhone at the WWDC on 7 June and further foreign release of the iPad in July, I won’t be surprised if Apple overtakes Exxon Mobil by then to become the most valuable company in the US.
The worldwide launch of the iPad saw the gadget released in 9 countries – UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and Canada – two months after its initial launch in the US.
The much awaited release saw the expected queues build up at Apple stores in these countries more than a day before the 28 May Friday launch date.
The iPad will be released to a further 9 countries – Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Mexico, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore – in July, and additional countries later this year.
Expect the same pent-up demand to build to the same frenzy when glazy-eyed fans vie to be the first in their respective countries to buy the iPad from a local store.