Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

According to the UK-based V3 publication, market research firm Context is claiming 3G iPads are a disproportionately large chunk of overall iPad sales figures. In fact, Context claims the 64GB 3G iPad totaled a third of all iPad 2 sales in Europe since its launch. The surge in 3G iPad sales is likely to have pushed Apple's average selling price (ASP) north, but to what extent?

The last known ASP for iPads came during Apple's January financial conference call, where Apple COO, Timothy Cook and Apple CFO, Peter Oppenheimer revealed a $600 figure. But Apple's figure was from the Christmas quarter, when entry-level $499 iPads were likely high volume sellers (when compared to other quarters). If Context figures hold true beyond Europe's boarders, iPad 2's ASP for the June quarter will land somewhere around $680. How much revenue does equate to for the June quarter? Mr. Cook gave us an idea last month.

During Apple's April fiscal 2Q financial conference call, Tim Cook was tight-lipped as to how many iPads Apple would be able to manufacture for the quarter, but he clearly indicated the Japan quake and Tsunami would not effect shipments through June. Tim also added that Apple had the ability to make a lot of iPads during Q3. When pressed, Cook would not specify numbers, only to repeat his claim that Apple could produce a lot of iPads during the June quarter, and that Apple had sold every single iPad they could make during the March quarter.

Apple sold 4.69 million iPads in the March quarter and 7 million iPads in the December quarter. Apple is likely to be back on pace to sell 7 million iPads during the June quarter, as Cook seems to be indicating Apple has completed its ramp exercises and is in full production mode. Assuming an ASP of $680 per iPad and 7 million iPads sold in the June quarter, Apple is likely to rake in a staggering $4.76 billion in iPad sales. Looking ahead, September may market the time when Apple never looks back at sub-10 million iPad sales per quarter.

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