iPad could produce the quickest climb to the $1B mark

Yesterday, we reported on an incredible statistic: If iPad sales continue at the current rate through the end of June, Apple could realize US$1 billion in revenue. Today, Yankee Group's Carl Howe puts that number into perspective, noting that the iPad "...will likely take the crown for the fastest consumer product growth to the $1 billion revenue mark in history." That is, of course, if current sales trends continue.

If it happens, it will have taken place in less than 120 days. Howe compares the iPad's meteoric rise to the revenue arc of Google. As a company that's barely over 10 years old, Google produced one of the fastest growths to $1 billion in revenue and the fastest growth to a market valuation greater than $1 billion.

It's also important to note that these iPad numbers account for US sales only. Once international sales begin, Apple should really blow the roof off of this thing.