In the terminal prices range from 499 to 829

Finally! Rarely a product launch will be monopolized attention and excitement than the iPad. Before even its commercialization from tomorrow in the US, the Apple touch Tablet is already a case of buzz marketing. Without having seen or tested the product, American consumers would précommandé between 250,000 and 300,000 iPad since the opening of reservations in mid-March. Television reports showed yesterday Apple employees responsible for selling the iPad on war footing: they have had the object the hands of a few minutes before the fateful hour. Pallets of terminals, stored in the warehouses of the shops, have been placed under permanent video surveillance to deter thieves. Never Apple has attracted such media hysteria, and yet it is the specialty of the firm to Apple. A belief that all attempts to Steve Jobs succeeds - even if this is not always true (read below).

Tomorrow, only the model Wi - Fi will be available, and the United States only. Mobile Internet will be limited so first voyage between the living room, kitchen and House. Later, the 3 G iPad will allow Internet users to stay connected on the move. Is avoir a subscription in the exclusive operator, ATT, which will collect a monthly package of $ 15 for 250 megabytes per month, or $ 30 in unlimited. For the moment, the operator sells even not the iPad. In the terminal, prices range from $ 499 to $ 829. It is less expensive than prices which will be in France, according to the rumor: of 549 to 879 euros, according to Lsa.fr.

6 million units in 2010

But nothing alters the enthusiasm of the commentators. According to the most optimistic forecasts of Morgan Stanley, Apple could sell 6 million units this year. Other polls and studies set the bar around 4 million. "Even though tablets have existed for several years, there is lot of questions about the use of the iPad", says Van Baker, Gartner. Apple however chained revolutionary launches in recent years: the iPod player, launched in 2001, has already generated about 250 million of sales in the world. And, on their side, the iPhone and iPod Touch have already passed some 75 million units since 2007. Sales of iPod starting to lose steam, the iPad could be a relay of growth for the firm, which is now 50 billion in turnover - ten times more than eight years ago. In the same range, the course of the title was multiplied by 20, 237 dollars.

The Apple Tablet part in the conquest of consumers Tan of the success of the iPhone, which has already brought on Mac sales. It is in the air of the time, because users want more access to the Web, their videos and photos without necessarily turn on their PC. Another major asset, the price. "Propose this type of product at less than $ 500, it is a sacred performance." "This is the great strength of the iPad, which may succeed in democratizing the tablet" note Jean-Luc Berrebi, responsible for technology and telecoms firm Deloitte sector.

The challenge of applications

However, several challenges will arise to Apple. Technical queries are not lacking: battery life, lack of multi-tasking, bandwidth saturation mode. But most will play in applications, the source of the success of the iPhone. Apple should be able to propose the 150,000 already existing applications for the iPad. Other applications will be developed specifically for this terminal. Similarly, Apple can count on its iBooks Bookstore: the mounted partnership with five of the largest publishers (McMillan, Harper & Collins, Penguin...), it should give the sale some 30,000 references of electronic books from the outset. The huge cash of Apple (more than 30 billion dollars) should still swell up, since the firm collects the crossing of 30 of the price of the download. "Today, the application is clearly Apple flagship activity." "In the future, it is that will be a good part of his margin", j. Van Baker.

Full record on the iPad on