Apple Inc’s iPad 2 has finally reached Many stores in United States on Friday. The latest gadget, which was exclusively sold in Apple and Best Buy stores the previous year, is now also available at Target and Walmart branches nationwide.

Analysts expect the demand for iPad 2 to be much higher compared to the original tablet computer sold last year. Also, the device now covers a much wider retail market with the addition of two store outlets.

Early Friday morning, long lines were already formed outside Apple store branches in New York and San Francisco. However, other iPad 2 retailers did not attract as many of Apple’s crowd. According to a Target store representative, notable lines had not formed outside their stores.

The updated version of Apple’s line of computer tablet will go on sale later this month in Australia and in the rest of the world. On Friday, Apple (AAPL) shares had closed up 1.3 percent at $351.99.

In 2010, there were about 15 million iPads sold worldwide. Tim Cook, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, said during a conference call held last January that production of the iPad had increased significantly in December when iPad sales soared 75 percent from the last period.

However, several analysts are expecting iPad sales to increase more than twice over in 2011. Apple’s iPad 2 might even sell its first million units faster than the original iPad, said Gene Muster of financial services Piper Jaffray.

The new iPad features a thinner and lighter frame than the first generation. It has a faster dual-core chip, which was designed by Apple Inc. Also, it has a new back and front video cameras.

Even with the latest improvements, Apple had kept iPad 2 price points same with the original. This means the price of a wifi-version iPad with a 16GB memory begins at $US499.