The iPad is one of the most important sources of revenue for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Sure, we could make up stats all day long, but instead of doing that, we’ll refer you over to BizJournals.com, which commented in an article published over the weekend, “The iPad is Apple’s second biggest source of revenue and the debut of the new [iPad 3] tablet is expected to be the company’s first major product unveiling since co-founder Steve Jobs’ death in October.” It’s due out in March, so mark your calendars.

There are two months and counting until the new iPad 3 is released. That’s barely 60 days. What can you expect from the device? Why would you want to purchase an iPad 3 instead of other tablet computers on the market? Why not just stick to your still-pretty-new iPad 2?

BizJournals.com shared what information it knew about what will surely be one of the hottest buys of 2012: “Apple ‘s new iPad is expected to have a faster central processor and higher resolution screen.” The high-resolution screen could even be clearer than your standard HD television, which would be quite an accomplishment for such a small piece of machinery.

Bloomberg added that the iPad 3 will “work with next-generation wireless networks, according to three people familiar with the product.”

LTE Technology

Speaking on the wireless networks, Bloomberg speculated that the company will be focusing on making its popular tablet LTE-compatible: “Apple is bringing LTE to the iPad before the iPhone because the tablet has a bigger battery and can better support the power requirements of the newer technology.” If you’ve ever seen a Verizon Wireless commercial, then you know that wireless network has a state-of-the-art LTE setup.

What makes LTE technology so important? And why would a company like Apple cater to it? A Financial Times article revealed, “The LTE networks now being built in the U.S. will provide consumers with much faster mobile data connections, streaming video, and a host of new mobile internet applications.” Now, that type of high-speed technology will be available on the iPad.

The iPad 3 will be manufactured in Asia and a Chinese company hopes to have its production facility in full swing by next month, according to Bloomberg. In fact, it’s already apparently running 24 hours a day in preparation for the rollout. The build is complicated in part by a Chinese holiday that takes place this month and will result in some down time.

At the top of the article, we said that the iPad is Apple’s second largest source of revenue. How many iPads do you think the company has sold? Go ahead and think of a number. One million? Ten million? Do you have a guess? Okay, the right answer is 40 million iPads. That’s a lot, and they translate to over $25 billion – yes, billion with a “b” – in sales.

Apple’s Stock Price

Apple’s stock is rock solid, and if you’re reading IRA.com, that might come as no surprise. Bloomberg noted that Apple’s stock rose 26% in 2011, the third straight year it has posted gains. On Friday, shares of AAPL ended the day at $419.81, down $1.58 on the day, or 0.37%. According to Bloomberg, Apple is the largest tech company on the planet in terms of market value, and that’s with a lot of competition. Below is the 52-week stock chart for Apple Inc.

Amazingly, Apple’s stock started 2009 trading around $90. By January 2010, it had more than doubled to around $200, and by the beginning of 2011, AAPL was fetching about $330 per share. Not too bad, right? Seemingly, after posting just a 26% gain on the year, you could say that 2011 was a “slow” year for Apple. Hopefully, part of your retirement account is linked to the California-based giant.

IRA Investing in Tech Stocks

Depending on your individual investment strategy, tech stocks could be a good fit for your IRA. To find out more about retirement investing, read our articles on IRA Basics and IRA Rules. You can also use the following link to Find an Advisor in your area and Open an IRA for as little as $1 within a matter of minutes.