Israeli Authorities Blocks Travelers With New Apple iPad

Israel this week has been blocking travelers from bringing Apple Inc.'s new iPad into the country saying the device's wireless technology threatens to create interference with other products, a move that has puzzled people both in Israel and Silicon Valley.

Photo: Israeli Authorities Blocks Travelers With New Apple iPad

The Ministry of Communications said the ban was instituted earlier this week because the iPad's Wi-Fi wireless technology was built to the U.S. standard, which allows stronger signals than those allowed in Europe and Israel.

"This device's wireless strengths violate Israeli law and will overpower other wireless devices in Israel," ministry spokesman Yechiel Shavi said, Wall Street Journal reports.

On Wednesday, Apple announced it was delaying the introduction of the iPad to Europe but did not cite Wi-Fi compatibility problems as a factor in the decision. Rather, the company said it had simply run out of the devices due to overwhelming demand in the United States.

Apple said it sold more than 500,000 iPads during the device's first week on the market, InformationWeek reports.