Apple has announced it has sold three million of its new iPad, since its launch last Friday.

The tablet went on sale in 12 countries last week, and sales will be expanded to a further 24 countries this coming Friday.

"The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold--the strongest iPad launch yet," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

USA based AT&T also said that it set a new single-day record for its iPad sales and activations last Friday - without divulging the actual numbers.