Apple To Release 3 Versions Of iPad 2: Digitimes

Thus far, the flurry of iPad 2 rumors have focused mostly around the obvious. It'll have a camera, says one source. It'll be thinner, faster, and more square, say others.

Digitimes, a Taiwanese newspaper, has just chimed in with a new report that Apple will release 3 versions of the next generation iPad, with a focus on providing users with a range of connectivity options.

Digitimes writes,

Apple is expected to release three versions of iPad 2, supporting either or a combination of Wi-Fi, UMTS and CDMA, for 2011 with mass production to start as early as the later half of January. Apple will ship about 500,000-530,000 units to channels in January with shipment ratio of Wi-Fi, UMTS and CDMA models at 3:4:3, according to industry sources, citing upstream component makers.

The sources pointed out that about 60-65% of current iPad shipments are 3G models, indicating that consumers prefer models that are able to connect to the Internet all the time, therefore Apple is aiming to work even more closely with telecom carriers by offering more wireless solutions for iPad 2 to satisfy market demand.

Research conducted earlier this year by Strategy Analytics found that Apple commanded 95 percent of the tablet market. Digitimes' unnamed sources--"upstream component makers"--reportedly estimated that Apple could ship 40 million iPads in the new year and may soon claim "65-75% of the global tablet PC market."

CrunchGear notes that releasing 3 models of the iPad 2 "slightly goes against Apple's Keep It Simple, Stupid sales strategy," but adds, "with the Verizon iPhone nearly a sure thing, the iPad is just following suit. It's all about consumer choice, which is a clever way of saying more revenue."

See our ultimate guide to iPad 2 rumors here.

Comments

[redmaple]

03:29 PM on 01/31/2011

And they said Apple only had 1 model.

[SisterAnn]

12:47 PM on 01/07/2011

I meant the keyboard isn't made by Apple.

[SisterAnn]

12:45 PM on 01/07/2011

One of my daughters bought an ipad about an year ago. She received a keyboard that is also a cover that fits her ipad exactly. It isn't by ipad. She sets her ipad in a tilted postition. This position plugs the ipad into the keyboard. I don't know if she figured out how to type on it where it would show up on the ipad screen.

[fjpoblam]

04:36 PM on 12/30/2010

There is one user category iPad may fit ideally (though many of you may disagree, I'm sure. So kick me. OOof!) That's my 80+ year-old mother-in-law. She's tech-savvy enough that she threatened to jump up and down on her "dumb phone" this past year-end visit. Why? Because I couldn't teach her how long to hold down a number to initiate a quick-dial I'd set up. ("Phones and computers just don't work!")

Yet, she enjoys email and the photos we can send her. But, when she boots Windoze, and her hearing aid isn't turned up enough to let her hear the hard drive spinning, she thinks the computer's broke, so she pounds Enter and Power over and over. Imagine the result. (Best just to close the lid and let it hibernate.)

I figure, an iPad has just two buttons: one for power and the other to diddle menus. Not a whole lot of chance for physical damage unless she throws it against the wall... Well, there's always that.

As for simplicity, she can just touch a little icon for each of the VERY FEW things she'll want to do. Maybe we'll teach her several, but at first, it'll be just email and MAYBE Safari. (Weather?) We'll give it to her with her home wireless already set up.

This seems the perfect doohickey for a user such as she.

[norkas]

08:47 AM on 12/30/2010

I see allot of people complaining about I pads but do not own one.

I am very pleased with my I pad and the new versions arriving soon on the market will allow multi tasking advancements unlike the fist models.

I do think apple better think about making more advancements before bringing new products to market because competitors will advance and surpass them.

Steve Jobs wake up now there is real competition out there now!

[StansDad]

03:14 AM on 12/30/2010

whoa man, three versions that's like, like like.. .. . . exactly the same as the first, with it's three versions... This is the last thing I'd expect to make the news. "This just in, Apple keeping the status quo when there's no call for change"

[littlebrowngirl]

10:13 PM on 12/29/2010

I luuuuuuuve my ipad. My laptop was acting up and I was on my way out of town so, I purchased an ipad to hold me over. And boy, did it ever. I have not used my laptop since and plan to purchase a iMac desktop instead of a laptop. The ipad suits me fine.

[PeterNY]

10:10 PM on 12/29/2010

I've been fooling around with my wifi-enabled iPad since Christmas. It's really cool, but I have one complaint. It doesn't multitask. That should be Apple's prime directive for version 2.

[jeremylh1]

11:22 PM on 12/29/2010

They already designed it. One that can multitask, camera, etc. They just release them separately so all the suckers buy each one.

[chef151]

09:15 AM on 12/30/2010

Huh?
It does multitask, very well in fact. You need to download the new software that has been out for over a month now.

[highlyqualified]

08:14 PM on 12/29/2010

Sarah Palin.

[GonzoFactor]

10:03 PM on 12/29/2010

Shock and Ewwwww . . .

[banker67]

07:47 PM on 12/29/2010

I like these products. I can't afford them, but when someone shows me theirs, I'm impressed.
That said, aren't most of the components made in Asia? I ask because it seems that Apple's comparatively expensive products are marketed mostly to people with significant money.
When these folks spend their GOP tax breaks, won't they be effectively pumping more money and creating jobs over there?
The more wealthy Americans spend on high-end electronics, luxury cars, rare wood flooring and myriad other imported luxury goods, the worse our economy gets.
Don't ask what happens when the Chinese, Koreans and Nigerians become the most cost-effective producers of America's top-secret weapons.

[doctorkosan]

12:13 PM on 12/30/2010

The president of China said when asked about this issue - (paraphrasing) When we make an iphone, we get $4 and Apple sells it for $200.
So who is benefitting most?

[Cyrus Trance]

07:01 PM on 12/29/2010

I'm gonna get two as soon as they come out. If that upsets some of you then that's your problem.

They are just harmless tools/toys and they hurt no one.

[stopgeorge]

07:06 PM on 12/29/2010

They hurt me, actually. I have to design content management apps for these tablets because my clients have no appreciation of the limits for these devices. They are just part of this annoying thoughtless tablet bandwagon thanks to Apple and their marketing team.

I'd much rather be designing apps that make sense for the desktop / laptop.

The tablet, IMO, is a step backwards.

[ware]

08:02 PM on 12/29/2010

funny that all managers got into the tablet bandwagon, most of them because of their kids in think. My managers want to put all desktop apps on the tablet using Citrix and maybe create an app to integrate with Sharepoint. it is so funny to see managers padding and poking around the screen :)

[Cyrus Trance]

09:37 PM on 12/29/2010

"They hurt me, actually. I have to design content management apps for these tablets because my clients have no appreciati­on of the limits for these devices."

LOL........................in other words, having more work is hurtful?

"I'd much rather be designing apps that make sense for the desktop / laptop.'

No one is forcing you to do anything so stop your whining. There are many unemployed Americans who would love the work.

Super lifers like you make me ill.

[TechieFreak]

05:15 PM on 12/29/2010

2 things I really hate and it sounds stupid when people do it.

using the term 'Dude'' and saying ''you know every 3 words when conversing.

I guess people aren't even aware they are doing it. Because when I stop someone who keeps saying you know with ' excuse me , no I don't know'' they give me a blank stare.

Must be all that flouride in your water there in the Useless States.

[freespeech2]

05:21 PM on 12/29/2010

Its just a way some people have of pausing while their brain catcdhes up with their mouth...

[rusane]

05:41 PM on 12/29/2010

Like, seriousley! People should, like, learn the language.

[ThyNeighbor]

05:13 PM on 12/29/2010

Somebody will make a removable vinyl sleeve for the iPad to protect it from weather etc. Then somebody will make a harder case for it for better protection. Then somebody will make a hardcase with a hinged lid for better ease of use. Then somebody will figure out if you put the lid side on the desk, the case becomes a holder-upper of the unit so it's stands at nice angle for viewing. Then somebody will figure out the they could put a keyboard on the lid, now the base. Then there is room on the edge of the base to put in some io port. ...

Then somebody will figure out they have just created a notebook, a small one, inadequate to do anything useful than run some eye-candy apps and a fancy address book.

[paixa3]

05:25 PM on 12/29/2010

LOL, kudos.

[TechieFreak]

06:43 PM on 12/29/2010

Ever try touch typing on a flat screen? :-) for those that don't know what touch typing is, its without looking at the keyboard. FREE software courses online. Once you learn that you never forget and can start cranking out 300 characters per minute.

I still thank my lucky stars I took that typing course 45 years ago, even if I was the only guy in the class. Took it to be around the hot babes :-)

[Nina Platter]

12:25 AM on 12/30/2010

TechieFreak are you kidding! 300 words a minut! The last typing class I was in 60 wpm was my top score without mistakes, One girl in my class typed 95wpm, the noise alone sitting next to her and her stupid keyboard about drove me nuts! I had to move across the room to keep from being pissed. but if I could do 300 wpm my ears would be deaf for sure!
I think I will wait for ipad3!

[KMFIX]

05:01 PM on 12/29/2010

I'd buy if it had USB!

[Cyrus Trance]

06:56 PM on 12/29/2010

Some rumors say it will have flash and USB.

[TechieFreak]

07:01 PM on 12/29/2010

Of course they couldn't put that on the first incarnation.

Are you getting it yet? iSuckers.

[AbstractImp]

04:45 PM on 12/29/2010

All these weird implements should come as accessory to iMac TV.