Tim Cook says new iPad had a “record weekend” for sales

Updated at 8:30 a.m. PT with AT&T’s statement.

On a call to discuss its first-ever share dividend Monday morning, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that the new iPad had a “record weekend” for sales.

Cook did not get specific with sales numbers because the call was focused on the new dividend and share buyback. However, the announcement is a curious one because of the notable lack of sell-outs at many stores around the country this past weekend. Even though Apple Store locations attracted attention with long lines, our own Devindra Hardawar was able to get a new iPad at 11 a.m. on launch day from a Radio Shack location without any fuss.

Perhaps this was because Apple was more-ready-than-ever to meet demand for the iPad. Or maybe a ton of people ordered online so they didn’t have to deal with the lines.

If Apple did indeed achieve huge sales numbers this weekend, we expect the company to trumpet the milestone. When the iPhone 4S sold more than four million units in its first weekend, for example, Apple let the public know with a press release.

AT&T followed Cook by a few hours with its own statement about setting a single-day record for iPad sales this past Friday, saying:

On Friday, March 16, AT&T set a new single-day record for its iPad sales and activations, demonstrating robust demand for the new iPad on the nation’s largest 4G network, covering nearly 250 million people.

iPad photo: Devindra Hardawar/VentureBeat