<P> The iPad was initially only available for purchase on Apple's online store and its retail locations; it has since become available through retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and network operators . The iPad was launched in countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom on May 28 . Online pre-orders in those countries began on May 10 . Apple released the iPad in Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore on July 23, 2010 . Israel briefly prohibited importation of the iPad because of concerns that its Wi - Fi might interfere with other devices . On September 17, 2010, the iPad was officially launched in China . </P> <P> The iPad originally shipped with iPhone OS 3.2 . On September 1, 2010, it was announced the iPad would get iOS 4.2 by November 2010; to fulfill this, Apple released iOS 4.2. 1 to the public on November 22 . It comes with several applications, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, iPod, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, and Contacts . Several are improved versions of applications developed for the iPhone or Mac . </P> <P> The iPad syncs with iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC . Apple ported its iWork suite from the Mac to the iPad, and sells pared - down versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps in the App Store . Although the iPad is not designed to replace a mobile phone, a user can use a wired headset or the built - in speaker and microphone to place phone calls over Wi - Fi or 3G using a VoIP application . </P> <P> On October 12, 2011, iOS 5 was released to various iOS devices, including the first - generation iPad, and was downloadable through iTunes . The update was reported to contain hundreds of new features and tweaks, including Twitter integration, Notification Center and iMessage, which is a feature that allows users to send messages or multimedia files to other users on iOS or OS X, the operating system for Apple computers . iCloud, an iOS app and Apple - provided internet storage service which allows users to sync and backup their user data and settings to / from other devices, was also made available through this update . On June 11, 2012 it was announced that iOS 6 would not be released for the first - generation iPad, making iOS 5.1. 1 the final operating system officially available for the device . </P>

When was the first ipad released in uk