iPad 3 units already shipped, initial U.S. deliveries expected to begin March 9th

A leaked shipping document has revealed iPad 3 units are currently being shipped to the United States.

The iPad 3 shipping document, made public by Chinese forum site WeiPhone (via Apple.pro), details shipments beginning February 26th from Apple supplier Foxconn to the United States.

iPad 3's are allegedly being shipped to U.S. airports JFK New York, LAX in Los Angeles, and ORD Chicago.  A rough translation on 9to5mac reads:

Our company started undertake a load of top-secured cargo. The owner has extreme requirements for the security. In order to prevent the cargo from being dragged on the airport ramp for too long, as well as shortening the time the cargo stay on the airport ramp, we hereby require XXXX to schedule all the XXX cargo planes from Feb. 26 to Mar. 9. to XXX slot.

With heightened security, the iPad 3 units should begin arriving in the United States shortly, with initial U.S. deliveries expected to begin March 9th.  Previous sources claimed Apple had plans to unveil the iPad 3 in the first week of March (as early as March 7th according to All Things D), but if shipments are just arriving, then we could be waiting a little longer before they debut the iPad 2 successor.

9to5mac also claimed sources said Apple could take pre-orders for the iPad 3, something they did not do for the iPad 2, but did for the original.  They also hinted that the pre-orders could begin March 7th, based on supplies, but they may online being a "few days later".

Regardless of the exact date of unveiling, this does provide further proof of a planned Apple event to debut the iPad 3.  It may no longer be the original "early March" prediction, however.

[Sonny Dickson]