Shipping Dates for New iPad Orders Begin to Slip, White AT&T Models First Hit in U.S.

Following the new Apple TV's slip to a 1-2 week shipping estimate in Apple's U.S. online store late yesterday, the first signs of Apple's supplies of the new iPad beginning to run short have now emerged, with 16 GB and 64 GB models of the AT&T 4G iPad in white now showing estimated shipping dates of March 19 in the store. All models had previously been listed as delivering on the launch date of March 16.

Shipping dates are beginning to slip in other launch countries as well, with Apple's store for Japan showing delivery by March 19 and its German store citing a date of March 22. In Canada, several models including the black 64 GB Wi-Fi and white 32 GB Wi-Fi, 64 GB Wi-Fi, and 16 GB 4G are now showing an "available" date of March 19, while all models had previously been promised for delivery within the March 16-20 window.

Apple experienced several months' worth of shortages of the iPad 2 at launch, and the company is rolling out the new iPad on an even more aggressive schedule with ten countries being included in the first round on March 16 and 25 more being added just one week later.

Update: Apple's UK online store is now showing shipping estimates of 2-3 weeks for all models of the new iPad.