Apple Poised to Sell 600,000 IPad 2s in Its Debut, Outpacing First Model

Apple Inc. may sell 600,000 of the second version of the iPad when it debuts this weekend, extending the device’s lead in a crowding market.

The iPad 2 goes on sale on Apple’s website at 4 a.m. New York time, then appears in U.S. stores at 5 p.m. Brian Marshall, an analyst at Gleacher & Co. who predicted more than a half- million in unit sales, is one of several who expect the iPad 2 to outpace its predecessor. Apple sold 300,000 of that version in 24 hours.

The iPad line is the fastest-selling technology product in history, measured by revenue, said Tim Bajarin, an analyst at Creative Strategies Inc. In less than three months, it topped $2 billion -- a milestone the iPhone took more than six quarters to reach. The second version has a head start on rivals, which are only now releasing their first models. It’s also benefiting from distribution through additional retail outlets.

“Apple has such a huge lead,” said Bajarin, who has covered the industry for more than 20 years and works as a technology consultant. He projects 500,000 units in two days. “Competitors are going to be chasing Apple for many years.”

Bajarin -- along with analysts from Rodman & Renshaw LLC and Piper Jaffray & Co. -- also predicts the device will outsell the first iPad, which came out in April. Apple will get a boost from offering a white model for the first time, he said.

More Stores

The iPad 2 will be available at 236 Apple stores, which will close from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to prepare for the release, Amy Bessette, a company spokeswoman said yesterday.

Apple’s new tablet also will be sold at more than 10,000 stores of AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Best Buy Co. and Target Corp., according to Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster.

Last year, Apple had 221 stores and it sold the device through about 1,100 other outlets, according to Munster. Through December, Apple sold a total of 14.8 million iPads, generating $9.6 billion in sales.