iPad 3G Available April 30 in the U.S.

Apple has announced that its 3G-capable iPad will become available for purchase in US retail stores on Friday, April 30. Pre-ordered units will arrive on the same day, Apple claims. A number of territories outside the US enumerated in Apple’s official report are said to receive iPad shipments at the end of May, as recently planned. Relevant excerpts from Apple’s official announcement have been reproduced below for our readers.

“Apple today announced that the Wi-Fi + 3G models of its magical iPad™ will be delivered to US customers who’ve pre-ordered on Friday, April 30, and will be available in Apple retail stores the same day starting at 5:00 p.m. […] iPad will be available at the end of May in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Apple will announce international pricing and begin taking online pre-orders for iPad on May 10.”

The company’s report includes a few details on the device itself using a description packed with less adjectives than usual. Besides noting the things the public already knows about the iPad, the Mac maker stresses that, “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.” Customers will be able to request a free Personal Setup service upon purchasing a unit at one of the company’s retail establishments. The service includes customization of the iPad by setting up an email account, downloading apps from Apple’s iTunes Store, and more. Special iPad workshops are also available for US residents buying an iPad at one of Apple’s stores.

Currently available only with WiFi networking capabilities, Apple’s iPad is sold throughout the US starting at $499, for the 16GB model, going all the way up to $699 for 64GB of storage. The WiFi+3G version is priced at $629, for the smallest storage configuration available, while the high-end, 64GB version sells for $829. Besides Apple’s retail and online stores, Best Buy stores, select Apple Authorized Resellers and campus bookstores also carry the iPad. Apple doesn’t forget to mention that future owners of a 3G-capable iPad will need to orient themselves towards AT&T’s “breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.”