Apple Could be Ramping Up for 10 Million iPads in 2010

Apple’s iPad shipments in 2010 could climb up to somewhere between 8 and 10 million units based on information from Asian parts suppliers, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.

Fortune reported that iPad parts suppliers have bumped up their iPad shipment forecasts from about 5 million up to the 8 t0 10 million unit range, and that they expect to ship 2.5 million units by the end of May. In contrast, Ms. Huberty has been predicting that Apple would ship about 750,000 through June.

Since the number of iPads shipped isn’t the same as the number sold, Ms. Huberty is still estimating that Apple will sell about 6 million iPads this year, ahead of Wall Street’s consensus of 3 to 4 million.

Apple began taking pre-orders and reservations for the iPad on March 12 and will begin selling the multimedia tablet in its stores on April 3. Over the weekend, Apple stopped taking reservations and pushed the delivery date for new iPad orders out from April 3 to April 12.

Apple and Best Buy retail locations in the U.S. will open at 9AM local time on Saturday, April 3 to begin selling the iPad. Pre-ordered units have begun shipping, but will likely be held at shipping centers for Saturday delivery.