Apple will start taking online Australian iPad pre-orders tomorrow (Monday 10 May) as the iconic technology company prepares to start selling its new tablet device locally — and in nine other countries around the globe — on 28 May.

The company revealed the timing in a statement on Friday night at 10:49PM Australian time, simultaneously publishing Australian pricing for the device.

The iPad models without 3G mobile access will sell in Australia for a recommended retail price in Australian dollars and including GST of $629, $759 and $879 for the models with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage space respectively.

The 3G models will go for $799, $928 and $1049 for the models with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage space respectively. Apple said the iPad would be sold through its own retail outlets as well as its Australian website select Apple Authorised Resellers.

Apple has also conclusively ended the question of whether it will sell iBooks — its own style of eBooks — in Australia. “The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store on 28 May,” the company’s statement said.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK will also get the iPad on 28 May. But New Zealand will have to wait a little longer.

“Apple plans to release iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July. Apple will announce availability, local pricing and pre-order plans for these nine additional countries at a later date,” the company said.

Image credit: Apple

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