Apple Inc has released the iPad Air in its stores on Nov. 1 and is expected to show strong opening weekend sales. Investors who are concerned with the sales performance of Apple's latest tablet may be happy to know that the iPad Air has a higher adoption rate than the previous iPad. Mobile analytics company Fiksu reported that the iPad Air had five times the adoption rate of the iPad 4 during the first three days of sale.

According to Fiksu, Apple's new iPad also had a higher adoption rate than the original iPad Mini at three times to one. Even if the opening weekend adoption rates for the iPad Mini and iPad 4 is combined, the iPad Air still comes out on top with twice the rate.

Fiksu reported that Apple Inc's latest iPad is 0.75 per cent of all iPads while the iPad 4 accounted for 0.37 per cent. The iPad Mini had 0.35 per cent. The company also said the iPad 2 accounted for 37.1 per cent in the total iPad market share. Following the iPad 2 is the iPad 4 with 22.5 per cent and the original iPad Mini at 20.8 per cent.

Brian J. White, chief financial analyst of Cantor Fitzgerald, said the iPad Air was strongly welcomed and sales were strong. Mr White said that Apple's iPad Air was sold out quickly in Hong Kong while shipping times in China were expanding.

Piper Jaffray's top Apple analyst, Gene Munster, said that he expects Apple Inc to sell between 2.5 million and 3.5 million iPad Air devices over the weekend. There may not be quite as many people standing in line outside Apple stores to buy the latest iPad version, but the iPad Air is still expected to have a strong opening weekend.

Apple Supports Employment Nondiscrimination Act

Meanwhile, Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook has urged U.S. Congress to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act to protect employees from discrimination when applying for jobs. Mr Cook wrote his opinion in the Wall Street Journal that Apple Inc is a company that welcomes employees regardless of their race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation.

He also said the nondiscrimination policy "is a matter of basic human dignity." Diversity drives the creativity of businesses. According to Mr Cook, he discovered that people are confident and comfortable in the workplace if they are valued for their individuality.

Apple Inc has an anti-discrimination policy which extends further legal protection to its employees. The company does not tolerate discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

RELATED STORIES