28 May 2010 | Author: J. Morton Search Copywriter

Apple causes international stir with iPad release

After a prolonged delay - purportedly due to underestimated demand in its domestic market of the United States - the iPad tablet computer from Apple has finally been released in international markets as of today.

Countries where the device has been made available for sale include Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom, in addition to many EU countries.

Despite a week-long delay due to stock issues, as well as massive queuing with some patrons waiting over 24 hours for a chance to snap up the game-changing device, many were more than happy to wait.

"It's fantastic, it was so worth the wait," Rahul Koduri, the first in line at the George Street Apple Store in Sydney, Australia, told the AFP.

Queues of over 1,000 were spotted in Tokyo, and the flagship Apple store in London saw additional hoopla over the release, as the world's tallest married couple made an appearance to promote the Guinness World Records app.

Additionally, actor and commentator Stephen Fry showed up to the launch event - where the store opened one hour earlier than usual - much to the pleasure of the crowd gathered. Fry said, despite the pandemonium, the "staff [were] very welcome to me. (Just to annoy more of you haters of the Apple 'cult'" via his Twitter account.

Unlike the staggered US release of the wireless and 3G versions of the device, international customers will have their choice between the two formats at the outset. Fry, for example, said he chose the 3G version, which has mobile internet capabilities.