Apple iPad 2 Coming With WiFi, UMTS & CDMA

 According to industry sources at chip component makers, Apple is going to work on 3 versions of iPad 2 that will consist of Wi-Fi, UMTS and CDMA models as reported by Taiwanese news daily DigiTimes. The mass production of these iPads is expected to start in late January. Once again the "industry sources" offers some secretive update but there's no way to confirm them to be true.

Apple iPad truly has been the most discussed and searched gadget of this year. Despite of that, several short comings exist in the tablet that are anticipated to be covered up in the next-generation iPad 2. Apple follows an annual product cycle under which a new product with design and/or hardware refresh comes out every year mostly. The iPad's annual product cycle period is January and hence eyes are glued to Apple for announcing the new iPad 2 sometime at or after the Consumer Electronics Show 2011 in Las Vegas.

The industry sources placed at Taiwanese component makers pointed out that about 60 to 65 per cent of current iPad shipments consist of UMTS 3G model. Hence Apple is expected to work closely with telecom operators and roll out second-generation iPad in conjunction with different wireless majors. Apple plans to ship about 500,000-530,000 iPad units in January at a ratio of 3:4:3 for Wi-Fi, UMTS and CDMA models respectively. For these new iPad 2 models, Apple is also said to be working on better oleophobic coating and anti-reflective screen. 

These sources also stated that Apple will gradually cease the production of iPad after January and whatever iPad inventory is left would be used to suffice the demand of the same model through the year 2011. The sources estimate that the iPad 2 shipments in 2011 will reach 40 million units. Too many figures and too many "industry" sources have been cited so far. Let's see a grainy or clear photo of iPad 2 before launch or wait for Apple to give out the official word on the same