The cellular
edition of the iPad Mini debuted in China today, but buyers will have to wait two weeks
before it ships.
That delay
also applies to the Wi-Fi only version. A check of the Apple Store in China finds that all capacities of both the
Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models are stuck with a two-week ship time.
iPad Mini
buyers in the U.K., Japan, and other countries face the same delay, though the wait time in the U.S. is only one week.
Apple has been
battling to meet global demand for its diminutive tablet, which has
outshined that of its larger 4th-generation cousin. The newest 9.7-inch tablet
is in stock at most online Apple stores around the world. In China, the Wi-Fi
version is immediately available, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular version offers a
wait time of just a few days.
The Wi-Fi Mini
and 4th-gen iPad both debuted in Hong Kong on November 2 and in China on
December 7. Since then, the smaller tablet has created a feeding frenzy among Chinese
buyers. Checks of retailers in China and Hong Kong last month by Topeka Capital
Markets analyst Brian White revealed "an insatiable appetite" for the
Mini, causing a supply shortage.
iPad sales for
last quarter may actually ring in lower than expected due to supply contraints,
according to J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz.
In an
investors note out yesterday, the analyst forecast unit sales of 18.4 million
for the Mini and the iPad 4 combined, down from his previous estimate of 20.1
million. The analyst does view the downturn as a temporary glitch, noting that
iPad supply started to improve in early December.
However, financial advisory firm Macquarie
Research believes the problem will extend to the current quarter, according to
Reuters. Macquarie's crystal ball sees shipments of the larger iPad dropping almost 40 percent in the
present quarter to around 8 million. That's down from its prior forecast of 13
million, though the firm believes total tablet shipments will show a smaller
decline due to heavy sales of the iPad Mini. [CNET]
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