Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive officer, introduces the iPad 2 at an event in San Francisco, the United States, March 2, 2011. Apple Inc. on Wednesday unveiled the second generation of its iPad, in a move to stay ahead in the increasingly crowded tablet computer arena. [Xinhua]

Apple Inc has cut prices of original iPad models by 27 percent in China following the release of the iPad 2 in the United States on Wednesday.

The 16-gigabyte Wi-Fi iPad model now costs 2,888 yuan (US$437), down from 3,988 yuan, without 3G (third generation) connectivity. Apple also trimmed prices for the 32GB Wi-Fi iPad to 3,688 yuan from 4,788 yuan, and for a 64-gigabyte version to 4,488 yuan from 5,588 yuan.

Apple does not sell the iPad 3G models in China because it has to talk with China Unicom for 3G services, which will take some time, industry insiders said.

Customers can buy the original iPad models with the new prices through its online stores and its Apple retail stores in Shanghai and Beijing. Those who bought iPads in the past 14 days can get a refund of the price difference, an executive of Apple's retail store on Huaihai Road West told Shanghai Daily.

The new iPad 2's release and the price cuts will increase pressure on other tablet computer rivals, including Motorola, Samsung, Hewlett-Packard and BlackBerry developer Research In Motion, industry insiders said.

"In such a fast moving market, Apple is forced to release new versions of its hardware to stay ahead," said Adam Leach, an analyst at Ovum, a research firm. "Apple's rivals have announced tablet devices which aim to replicate the Apple experience, which is notoriously difficult to match."

Apple's iPad now takes 90 percent of the booming tablet PC market, according to Ovum.

The iPad 2, which features two cameras and is thinner and lighter, will be sold in 25 countries on March 11, with a starting price of US$499. China is not among the 25 countries. Apple declined to reveal the timetable of iPad 2's debut in China.