Appple could be preparing to release three versions of its market-leading iPad, according to a report on Tuesday.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Citing iPad component makers, DigiTimes says Apple is planning iPads that support Wi-Fi, UMTS and CDMA. Production of the units is expected to start in late January.

Suppliers expect to ship between 500,000 and 530,000 units to the channel in January.

The same sources indicated that up to 65 percent of Apple’s current iPad shipments are 3G models, which gives users the ability to connect to the Internet and be more mobile while connected, than the Wi-Fi model.

Apple has not said when it will begin shipping the iPad 2, but DigiTimes suggests it would be towards to end of the first quarter 2011.