Apple’s iPad 3 is not expected to cost more

Apple Inc. is not expected to raise prices for the next-generation iPad and probably will keep its current pricing structure, according to bloggers who follow the company.

Apple has scheduled a news event Wednesday in San Francisco, where it is widely expected to announce the iPad 3.

“Some countries with currencies doing better than the U.S. dollar should expect to see marginal drops in prices,” the blog 9to5Mac said.

That’s good news for the hordes of shoppers expected to line up for the tablet once it’s released and is in line with Apple’s usual approach of keeping prices the same for new generations of popular products.

And if you’re in the market for an iPad 2, you’ll probably be able to score one at a discounted price. When the iPad 2 was released, the price of the original iPad dropped about $100 until it sold out. Last week, Best Buy offered a $50 discount on the iPad 2.

Current prices on Apple’s website for the Wi-Fi-only version of the iPad 2 are $499 for a 16GB device, $599 for a 32GB device and $699 for a 64GB device. For the 3G-enabled version, the respective prices are $629, $729 and $829.

Last month, Apple emailed invitations to media members for Wednesday’s event in San Francisco. The invitation doesn’t say specifically that the next iPad will make its debut, but it features an image of a hand touching the iPad’s Calendar app icon for Wednesday, along with the message, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

Just as with Apple’s previous two iPad launch events, the presentation will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

The iPad 2 was unveiled March 2, 2011 and went on sale the next week. The first iPad was introduced Jan. 27, 2010 and arrived in stores April 3 of that year.

[email protected]