US retailers Best Buy, Walmart and Sam's Club will be offering the iPad 2 when the highly awaited tablet device becomes available in stores on March 11th.                  

Apple, which unveiled the device at an event this week, will also be offering the device from its own retail stores across the US. The company said that online sales and pre-orders will not begin until the device has launched on March 11th.               

Both companies have advertised the product, coming with its magnetic smart cover, as being available from the start date. Apple had previously only allowed retailers to offer the iPad a few months after it was launched. The first generation model was only initially available from Apple and wireless carrier AT&T.               

The device, which was demoed by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the launch, is 33 per cent slimmer and 15 per cent lighter than the original iPad. iPad 2 will come with a dual core A5 processor and twin cameras that support HD video recording. Unlike the iPad, the iPad 2 will be available in two colors, black and white along with the some flashy new covers and accessories.

The iPad 2, which comes with the new iOS 4.3 operating system, will be available on both AT&T's and Verizon's networks.