Apple started taking orders for the iPad 2 on its UK online store early this morning, but by then queues had already started to form outside its retail outlets.
The new iPad doesn’t go on sale in the shops until 5pm this afternoon, but eager customers, perhaps frustrated by the several-week waiting time on the online store, have been camping out overnight in front of Apple’s London Regent Street and Covent Garden stores.
Apple announced earlier this week that the price for the 16GB wifi version of the new iPad would be £399, £30 cheaper than its predecessor. The 32GB and 64GB versions cost £479 and £559, respectively. The 3G iPad, from Apple, costs £100 more for each model.
Mobile network providers have also announced contract prices in recent days. Orange and T-mobile will charge £199 to new customers for the 16GB version on a 24-month contract at £25 per month. New customers will be charged £229 for the iPad and £27 per month for the contract.
Vodafone will charge existing customers £199, £249, and £349 for the 16GB, 32GB,and 64GB 3G models on a 24-month contract costing £24.50 per month. New customers will be charged £30 more for the iPad and £2.50 per month extra for the contract.
Three’s upfront prices are £229, £279, and £379 and its 24-month contract costs £25/month.
O2 announced earlier this month that it would not sell the iPad 2, though it does have sim-only data tariffs for it.
