Apple unveils its first iAd for the iPad

Apple is set to launch the first iAd for the iPad this afternoon for the upcoming Disney film Tron Legacy.

The format, which has been specifically designed to maximise the potential of the tablet device, will be launched more widely in early 2011, according to Ad Age.

The first iPad iAd features rich graphics, touch navigation and video native to apps, similar to the iPhone and iPod Touch iAds.

The full screen Tron ad will run in iPad apps such as TV Guide.  It includes 10 minutes of video footage, images from the film, a cinema locator with showing times and a preview of the soundtrack with a direct option to purchase it on iTunes.

So far, Apple has sold more than 7.5 million iPads worldwide.  However, the iPad iAd will only be available in the US.

Apple launched its mobile ad network iAds in April after acquiring Quattro Wireless earlier this year.

IDC predicts that Apple iAds will close the year with more than an 8% US mobile ad market share, compared to Google’s 60%.