The iPad continues its march towards world domination with an impending invasion of Walmart, America’s favorite supplier-bullying, content-censoring retail giant. Leaked emails and photos from eagle-eyed customers reveal that Apple’s overachieving tablet is just about to colonize shelf space nationwide.
The intercepted email shows inventory information and reveals that Walmart will stock all six iPad models at standard prices, along with Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard, the Camera Connection Kit, iPad charger, dock and case. Another email, published by Mac Rumors, details the roll-out: Walmart stores will start to sell the iPad this week, with 1,000 stores stocking it by the end of October, and a further 800 stores will carry it in November. Walmart joins Target, which is already selling the iPad in its brick-and-mortar stores.
The iPad is actually already on sale in at least one store, and is stashed under in-store displays in a rather non-secretive manner in at least one other, according to photos taken by readers of Mac Rumors and The Unofficial Apple Weblog (above right, complete with arrow for TUAW readers who don’t know what an iPad looks like). I particularly like the tag behind the on-shelf iPad, which reads “Low price: $829.” Low? Really?
I have the feeling that the iPad will be this year’s Tickle-Me-Elmo, especially as it can now be tossed into holiday-season shopping carts along with everything else at Walmart. Expect to see these things everywhere, and I mean everywhere, when the kids get ahold of them this Christmas.
Wal-Mart Preparing to Offer iPad [Mac Rumors]
iPad already showing up on Walmart shelves [TUAW]
See Also:
- Apple's iPad Heading to a Target Near You
- Apple Sells 2 Million iPads in 2 Months
- Apple's iPad Sales Accelerate: Three Million Sold in 80 Days …
- Gates On iPad: Needs Pen, Keyboard, Voice
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