Nine months after its U.S. launch, the iPad quietly landed in India last Friday.However, it wasn't met with the mass hysteria that Apple's popular tablet brought when it was came to the States last April. On the iPad's first day in U.S. stores, Apple sold 300,000 of the device.
There are a couple reasons that can be attributed to the less enthusiastic reaction to the tablet in India. First of all, many Indian news sources have said that a majority of consumers in the country that want an iPad have already snagged the gadget on the "grey market."
Additionally, the iPad is more expensive in India than it is in the U.S. The 16GB Wi-Fi version is priced at 27,900 Indian rupees (about $609 USD), while the same model sells for $499 stateside. The 64GB 3G iPad is 44,900 rupees in India, which is equal to almost $1,000 in the U.S.
The iPad is also a little late to the party. Samsung's Galaxy Tab, which is probably the iPad's closest competitor, is already available in India. At 38,000 rupees, Samsung's seven-inch tablet is a bit more affordable. The iPad's entry has also driven down the price of the Galaxy Tab.
The five-inch Dell Streak is available in the country for 34,999 rupees.
With rumors that a next-generation iPad will soon be announced, there is also a decreased motivation to invest in an expensive device that will soon be outdated.
"Many Indians feel as if Apple is clearing old stock to make way for the launch of the next version of the iPad," said a report on one Indian news site.
