HP TouchPad causes UK ecommerce blitz, report says

Although Hewlett-Packard recently announced the discontinuation of its TouchPad tablet, sales of the device in the United Kingdom have reportedly broken ecommerce records as consumers have flocked to online payment gateways.

According to a recent Shopsafe.co.uk report, the ecommerce outlet Dixons experienced the highest number of simultaneous shoppers ever recorded in the region. Other retailers, including Curry's and Carphone Warehouse, reported great demand for the devices.

"As is unsurprising in this instance, the TouchPad sale saw major slowdown hamper the performance of retailer websites," said Shopsafe's Graham Miller. "In addition, the significant interest meant that the tablet was sold out in a very brief period, leaving thousands disappointed and asking for some answers."

The two models of the HP TouchPad are currently selling for £89 and £115 in the United Kingdom, far lower than the previous pricing for the devices.

Overall, online shopping continues to thrive in the region. According to a study conducted by IMRG Capgemini, U.K. ecommerce reached £31.5 billion in the first half of 2011, which is an increase of 19 percent from the same period in 2010.