Apple on Friday notified developers that it has begun accepting apps designed for the iPad. Apple also confirmed for The Loop that the iPad App Store will launch on April 3. The email from Apple said the company will review apps and give developers feedback on “its readiness for the grand opening.”

Only apps submitted by March 27 at 5pm will be eligible for the initial launch, according to Apple.

“We’ve opened the initial submission process for developers to submit apps for iPad and we are looking forward to having an amazing line up of apps available when the iPad ships on April 3,” an Apple spokesperson told The Loop.

Most developers have used an iPad simulator to make and test and their apps. Some developers and media companies have had access to the device, but those are few and far between.

It will be interesting to see how many iPad specific apps will be ready for day one. There does seem to be a lot of interest in the developer community, which makes sense considering the success many of them saw when the iPhone App Store launched.

Update: Added confirmation from Apple that the iPad App Store will open on April 3.