iPad 2 pegged for Russia, Brazil on Friday
updated 03:35 pm EDT, Wed May 25, 2011
Joins other Apple launches in India, Ukraine
The iPad 2 will also launch in Russia and Brazil this coming Friday, reports say. While little information has emerged about Brazilian plans, Russian tablets will reportedly be sold at a variety of stores including MediaMarkt, Beliy Veter Cifrovoi, M.Video, ION, Technosila, Eldorado, z-Store and Re:Store. Re:Store’s PR director, Ludmila Semushina, says the chain expects the iPad 2 to sell "even faster" in Russia versus Germany, Denmark and Norway, where initial stock vanished within three days.
Local prices will begin at 18,990 rubles, or $667, for a 16GB Wi-Fi model. The top-end 64 3G model is poised to be extremely expensive at 30,990 rubles, or $1,088. The prices are roughly comparable to those in the Ukraine, where the iPad 2 will also arrive on Friday. The day appears to be playing host to a series of Apple launches, including the first Indian iPhone 4s.
The Russian schedule for the iPad 2 was accelerated involuntarily, according to the Moscow News. One chain, Svyaznoi, is said to have ignored official channels, and simply smuggled boxes onto shelves. A Russian launch was originally anticipated in June.
