Apple Inc. will begin taking pre- orders for its iPad multimedia tablet computer today at 5:30 a.m. California time.

Customers who order one of three Wi-Fi versions of the device, either for home delivery or store pickup, will receive it on April 3, spokeswoman Natalie Harrison said in an interview. That’s the same day the iPad goes on sale in Apple’s U.S. stores.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs has described the iPad as a new category of device that falls between smartphones and low-priced netbook computers. It has a 9.7-inch (25-centimeter) touch screen and can serve up Web pages, e-mail, music, videos, electronic books and iPhone applications. Apple said earlier this month that it would accept pre-orders beginning today.

The Wi-Fi models are priced as low as $499. Later in April, Apple will offer three models that work with 3G wireless networks. The Cupertino, California-based company said it will start selling the device in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. sometime this month.

Apple rose 66 cents to a record $225.50 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have more than doubled in the past year.

source:bloomberg