iPad bound for China

Apple will start selling the Wi-Fi version of the iPad in China on Friday.
 
The tablet will be sold through Apple stores and other retail outlets, with prices ranging from 3,988 yuan (€459) for the 16GB version, to 5,588 yuan for the 64GB model.
 
The device, which began selling in the US in April, has been available in limited volumes through gray market channels in China for several months.
 
Unicom began selling an iPad SIM card on September 1 to support gray market sales, but pulled it off the shelf after one day, reportedly because of the pending formal launch.
 
Apple has not announced a date for the China launch of the 3G-capable iPad.
 
Ahead of the arrival of the Wi-Fi iPad, China Telecom has offered 10 hours a week free Wi-Fi connection for its Tianyi 3G customers. It also says it will allow China Mobile and Unicom users to apply for two hours’ Wi-Fi connectivity, Sohu reported.