iPad 3Gs go on sale today at the Best Buy on Gunbarrel Road, according to Susan Henderson of Best Buy.
“At four o’clock we’re giving out tickets for the 3G release, and at five o’clock 3G iPads become available,” Ms. Henderson said.
The number of tickets distributed beginning at 4 p.m. will correspond with the number of iPads available at the store, so Ms. Henderson expects demand to be roughly equivalent to the initial launch of the iPad with Wi-Fi, which saw about 50 customers lining up to purchase Apples newest device.
“In all likelihood we’re going to have quite a show starting at four o’clock,” she said. “At this point in time, what’s going to be available at five will be the 3G version, we’ve already rolled through our straight Wi-Fi stock.”
The iPad 3G includes both a cellular wireless as well as a traditional Wi-Fi radio, according to DJ O’Brien, sales operator at Best Buy.
“Essentially what you can do with the 3G is you’ll have the ability to activitate it through AT&T to carry 3G wireless services rather than have to go to a WiFi hotspot of be tethered to the WiFi in your house,” Mr. O’Brien said. “Wherever you can use a cellphone, you can use your iPad.”
While the store would not release exact numbers, they plan to have a “full complement” of 3G iPads in stock, Ms. Henderson said.