First National Bank (FNB) has confirmed that it will be bringing the new iPad to South Africa, and will also continue to sell the iPad 2 below retail prices.
Apple announced the latest iteration of its wildly successful iPad tablet PC on Wednesday (7 March 2012). The company decided to drop the numbering scheme for the 3rd generation iPad, simply calling it “the new iPad” in the marketing material.
It will become available in the US and 12 other countries on 16 March 2012 at the same price point as the iPad 2. Another 26 countries are scheduled to get the iPad by the end of March 2012.
As with previous Apple product releases, South Africa did not make it into the first two release waves.
Core Group, local distributors of Apple products in South Africa, said that it did not have confirmation on local information on the new iPad, including whether or not it would keep selling the iPad 2 at a reduced price as Apple will be doing elsewhere.
First National Bank (FNB), which launched a special deal on tablet PCs and smartphones for some of its account holders, has confirmed that it will be bringing in the new iPad.
Ilse Smuts, head of marketing at FNB Core Banking Solutions, said that FNB will supply the new iPad at the lowest possible price point and confirmed that FNB will continue to supply the iPad 2.
They will also continue to price it below recommended retail prices, Smuts said.
Regarding launch dates, Smuts said that it all depends on when the iPad is made available in SA.
“FNB has a strong relationship with local Apple distributors. When the devices become available in South Africa we will work with the Core Group to ensure that these devices are available to our customers,” said Smuts.
This seems to be contrary to FirstRand Bank boss, Sizwe Nxasana’s previous statements that FNB imports directly from Apple.
Asked whether they expect to sell the new iPad at the same price as the iPad 2, Smuts said that they would have to look at pricing based on the device cost, landing cost as well as the exchange rate at the time.
Article courtesy of MyBroadband – iPad 3 confirmed for South Africa
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I really wish the press would stop making up stuff. There is no such thing as the iPad3. Call it the 3rd Generation iPad, if you have to, even the iPad 2012? Apple release a new version every year, and let’s be honest, the general public will buy it because the sheep-master said so!