The Apple iPad, the iconic touchscreen tablet PC, finally makes it to Indian stores on Friday, after it was first unveiled in the United States nearly nine months ago.

And barely hours before the iPad's launch, rival tablet PC maker Samsung has already slashed its price. Samsung's Galaxy Tab now costs Rs 29,000 instead of the earlier Rs 38,000.

The iPad will be available in Wi-Fi and 3G+Wi-Fi versions, each with three capacities (16GB, 32GB and 64GB).

The Wi-Fi version is priced at Rs 27,900-37,900 and the 3G+Wi-Fi version costs Rs 34,900-44,900.

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State-run telecom operator BSNL has also announced post-paid and pre-paid iPad 3G data plans at Rs 999 for unlimited usage.

Thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook, the iPad delivers up to 10 hours of battery life to surf the net on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours using a 3G data network.

Arvind Chaturvedi, a marketing professional, can't wait to get his hands on one. "The pricing is not too high for an entry version of the iPad," he tweeted in response to a query from Business Standard.

Meanwhile, Apple's competition is gearing up for a busy 2011.

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The Galaxy Tab has data plans from Samsung telecom partners Airtel, Aircel, Reliance, Tata DoCoMo and Vodafone.

Ranjit Yadav, country head (Samsung Mobile & IT Business) is confident of garnering around 50 per cent marketshare in India's high-potential tablet market.

Samsung is using its existing smartphone channel as well as large-format retail channel to retail the Galaxy Tab.

"The number of outlets for the Tab will increase this year. We are also using the IT channel to retail the Tab," added Yadav.

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Customers purchasing a Galaxy Tab are given a 2GB SD card with a pre-loaded MapMyIndia navigation package and the movie 3 Idiots worth Rs 2,250.

Dell, whose Streak -- a 5-inch screen Android-based tablet-cum-smartphone -- was launched last year, however, has no immediate plans of cutting the Rs 34,990 price of its device.

The company showcased a new Streak model with a 7-inch screen at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show.

"Right now, we are focused on developing and bringing to market devices that provide the very best interactive experience for customers at the best value," said Mahesh Bhalla, GM (consumer & SMB), Dell India.

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India's tablet PC market is estimated at 25,000 units a quarter, but holds the promise of growing quickly as 3G penetration gathers momentum.

Hoping to ride that wave is S Rajendran, chief marketing officer at Acer India, who confirmed that his company will launch its tablets this year.

"We will launch five new tablet PCs, with screen sizes of 4.8 inches, 7 inches and 10 inches, with first one releasing in the next 2 months."

While Rajendran did not share details on 3G bundling plans it will offer with the tablet PCs, he added, "We expect the 7-inch tablet devices to be our stellar product, with the sweet spot being a price-point of Rs 24,999."

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Analyst Rahul Gupta of Strategy Analytics feels "iPad-like" gadgets should see an initial sales euphoria. "The high Arpu (average revenue per user) telecom subscriber is the target market for tablet PC vendors and will see heightened activity this year."

He also estimates that BlackBerry maker Research in Motion's Playbook, a touchscreen tablet PC due for a launch in the US next month, should release in India by the second quarter.

"With RIM's Playbook and Apple's iPad in the market, there will be little scope for anyone else," added Gupta.

Last July, Apple rolled out the iPad in nine countries, taking the total to 19 where the device was officially sold.

Delays in the launch of the iPad in India spurred grey market and online sales at a premium price of up to Rs 54,899 (for the 64 GB Wi-Fi+3G enabled model).