∞ Analyst predicts 45 million iPads sold in 2011

Apple’s iPad is one of the best selling devices ever, but one analyst sees sales skyrocketing over the next year to almost unheard of numbers.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Brian White, an analyst with Ticonderoga Securities, said in a research note to clients that he expect sales of the iPad to reach 45 million units in 2011. White seems to be basing his numbers on talks with Chinese suppliers, according to a report on Forbes.

White’s numbers are higher than any analyst to date. Piper Jaffray Senior Research Analyst, Gene Munster, said he expects Apple to ship 21 million units in 2011, almost half of what White is predicting.

Apple hasn’t released sales numbers for the iPad since reporting its fiscal third quarter in July. At that time, Apple shipped 3.27 million iPads in the first quarter it was available.