US iPhone, international iPad expansions continue
updated 10:00 am EDT, Fri April 20, 2012
iPad comes to 12 more countries
This Friday marks another set of expansions for iPhone and iPad sales. The iPhone 4S is now available through another five regional US carriers, including Alaska Communications, Appalachian Wireless, GCL, Cellcom, and nTelos. The first regional carrier to get the iPhone was C Spire, which joined national options AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.
The third-generation iPad is meanwhile launching in 12 more regions. With the exception of Croatia and Cyprus, the focus is on non-European countries: Brunei, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, St. Maarten, South Korea, Venezuela, and Uruguay complete the list.
Apple uses a gradual approach to launching products in order to ensure demand is reasonably satisfied in key countries -- the US, UK, Canada, France, and Germany, among others -- before straining production any further. Legal hurdles can be another area of concern though, such as in China, where wireless devices must clear several certifications to go on sale.



