O2 And Vodafone Confirm UK iPad Launch In May

Both Vodafone and O2 have announced they will announce dedicated iPad price plans at the end of May, confirming Apple’s announcement that the tablet’s international launch will be delayed.

In virtually identical emails, the two companies said they “will offer dedicated iPad price plans for all models from the end of May” in the UK. Apple earlier today announced that, because of high demand in the US, it was delaying the international launch of the device by one month until the end of May.

iPad delay confirmed

The international launch was delayed because of unexpectedly high demand for the iPad in the US where it launched earlier this month, and sold 450,000 units in its first five days. Apple said this level of sales would make it difficult to meet demand in the rest of the world.

Previously, it had been rumoured that the iPad would launch in the UK on 24th April, but this is now not possible. UK users can buy iPads from online stores, or enter eWEEK Europe’s prize draw.

Among the oft-repeated drawbacks to the iPad is its inability to run applications based on Adobe’s Flash technology, which Steve jobs has publicly criticised. Apple has tightened up agreements for developers, forceing them not to use cross-platform development tools, leading to speculation that Adobe will sue Apple over its conditions.