Two million iPads sold in the US

Apple, now the largest US technology company by value, said it had sold two million of its iPad tablet computers, outdoing even the iconic iPhone on its launch.

Apple said it had sold 1.4 million iPads since it went on sale exclusively in the US on April 3.

On Friday, the iPad - a flat, 25-centimetre black tablet computer that Apple claims will revolutionise the industry - went on sale in Australia, Japan, Canada alongside Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Demand in the US was so strong that the company pushed back the global roll-out. Apple head Steve Jobs said in a statement that clients all over the world were now able to experience the iPad and seemed to like it as much as the company itself.

Apple was very grateful for their patience and was now doing everything in its power to make sure there were enough iPads for everyone, Mr Jobs added.

The iPad goes on sale in nine additional countries next month, including Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and The Netherlands.

Last week, Apple dethroned software giant Microsoft as the largest US technology company in terms of market value.