Apple Canada retail hints iPad timing

A new leak Apple may have already fenced off April 24th for its Canadian, and possibly international, launches for the iPad. Some Apple store workers in Canada have reportedly been told that the 24th and 25th are "blackout periods," or days when they can't voluntarily book the day off. Since Apple in the past has used these blackouts to prepare for the iPhone 3G and other major launches, it's believed that the company has already reserved the 24th as launch day and wants to guarantee staffing levels.

Officially, Apple hasn't committed to anything more than a late April release for Canada and eight other countries. An April 24th date would nonetheless be consistent with this timing and would be Apple's last opportunity to sell the iPad worldwide on a Saturday. The chief concern at present would be shipping, as Canada doesn't normally accept Saturday mail and would have to either make special exceptions or arrange for weekend shipping on all of the first-wave orders.

If in sync with the three week gap between pre-orders and actual shipping already seen in the US, advance purchases would start late this week, on April 2nd. No Canadian carriers have provided 3G data plans, however, and so any advance sales campaign might need these as well.

By Electronista Staff