"Apple sells 3 mn iPads within 3 days of launch"

People wait on a street in front of an Apple

 store as they await sales of the new iPad

 in the Apple store in Munich. The third-generation

 iPad has faster chips, fourth-generation

 wireless, a sharper display 

and a better camera.

In a new record for Apple, the technology giant has sold a whopping three million of its new iPads within just three days of launching the latest version of its blockbuster tablet computer. 

The California-based company launched the third version of the iPad on Friday with new features including an improved display, better camera, faster processor and support for AT&T's and Verizon's fourth-generation LTE cellular networks. 

Apple announced yesterday that it has sold three million new iPads the same day that the company said it will put its nearly USD 100 billion cash reserves to use by beginning to pay a quarterly 2.65 dollar dividend and through a 10 billion dollar share buy-back programme. 

During the conference call with investors to discuss Apple's plans for its cash stockpile, Apple's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said the company had a "record weekend" for its latest iPad but had not given the exact sales figures. 

Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller disclosed the figures later in a statement. 

"The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold, the strongest iPad launch yet," Schiller said. 

The new iPad is already available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and the US. 

"Customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad, including the stunning Retina display, and we cannot wait to get it into the hands of even more customers around the world," when it becomes available in 24 more countries from March 23 and through Apple online stores. 

The new iPad, available in black and white, is priced between USD 499 and USD 829 dollars depending on the various models and configurations. 

Apple has reduced the cost of iPad 2 which is now available at a price of between USD 399 and USD 529 dollars. Cook said Apple has sold 55 million iPads since the trend setting tablet computer was first launched in 2010. 

The first iPad took 28 days to hit one million sales, Apple said.