Every time Apple prepared the launch of a new product, the old model of that product started to be unavailable in the stock of the company's partners from Cupertino. The same thing is now happening with the iPad 2 3G tablets, which are no longer available for purchase at some large retailers in Europe. 16/32GB version of iPad 2 3G is unavailable for purchase at large retailers in Great Britain, but the Wi-Fi only version does not seem to be affected for now. This is the first time in the last half year that these retailers have such big problems with stocks and considering that the iPad 3 tablet is to be launched in March, it is normal.
According to a source familiar with Apple's product distribution channels, the iPad 2 WiFi + 3G is constrained. Supply shortages span beyond Apple's own distribution channels, though, as major retailers are reporting "out of stock" status for the 3G iPad 2. This includes, but is likely not limited to, Carphone Warehouse and Orange in the United Kingdom. Carphone Warehouse is reporting shortages of five out of six of their 3G iPad 3 models (everything but the black 64GB unit), and Orange UK is reporting shortages of half of the 3G iPad 2 SKUs: both 32GB models and the white 64GB unit.
It is interesting, however, that the Wi-Fi only models of the iPad 2 can still be purchased without problems, and this indicates that Apple could keep this model on sale at a lower price. The iPhone 3GS is kept on the market for the third consecutive year with the idea of giving anyone the opportunity to buy an Apple iPhone and the same thing could happen with the iPad 2 Wi-Fi only tablet. If Apple takes this decision, then we will witness a radical change in the strategy of the Apple company, which for the first time has two different models of the iPad tablet on the market.
We will learn more about the company's plans in the first week of March, but their intentions seem quite clear and the problems with stocks indicate that production for iPad 3 has increased and that for iPad 2 has decreased significantly for some time.
