Apple's (AAPL) iPad Expected to Ship Soon

With most believing Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will unveil the iPad 2 at an announced special event on Wednesday, the question is how long the company will take before the first shipments begin.

Not long at all, say supply chain sources, who tell Barclays (NYSE:BCS) that the iPad 2 will likely arrive at market in April, just like its predecessor. Evidently, its design and specifications were finalized earlier this month and it’s headed into manufacturing now. Barclays analyst Kirk Yang expects iPad 2 shipments to start in early April, with two million units for that month.

“The April shipment time frame (vs. the earlier market expectation of small shipments in March) is primarily due to production line setup and training, and not likely due to any product re-design,” he says. “None of the component suppliers suggest any type of re-designs nor delays.”

Like most everyone else, Barclays expects the iPad 2 to be faster, thinner and lighter and outfitted with cameras and FaceTime support. Its unit shipment forecast for the device: 28.8 million for fiscal 2011 and 40 million for fiscal 2012.





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