Apple Inc said on Wednesday it would delay for one month the international launch of its popular iPad tablet computer, due to stronger-than-expected first-week sales in the United States.

Shares of Apple rose about 1 percent in premarket trading after the company said it sold more than 500,000 units of the touch-screen device in week after the April 3 launch. It expects sales will likely continue to exceed our supply over the next several weeks.

Apple said it will announce international pricing and begin taking online orders on May 10.

Apple shares, which have risen about 15 percent so far this year, climbed to $245.24 in premarket trade on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Franklin Paul; Editing by Derek Caney)