iPhone 5 production plans yet to hit factories

Touchscreen builders in Taiwan claimed Wednesday that Apple had yet to give them a production timeline for the iPhone 5. Their shipment numbers have reportedly remained steady and haven't seen calls to scale back production that would normally suggest a new model was coming in. Shipment numbers for the iPhone 4 were even increasing, the suppliers told Digitimes.

The manufacturing chain didn't know when a new model would show up. More credible leaks have had the iPhone 5 skipping WWDC but possibly showing up at Apple's usual September music event. Timing of the sort would leave the companies with a few months yet before they would have to start making parts for the new model.

Reasons for the longer development interval, if true, are still unknown. Sony may have given away clues of possible camera supply issues owing to OmniVision as well as Japan's Tohoku earthquake. Other candidates could be physical modifications to address antenna concerns or simply the time to develop iOS 5, which is rumored a big enough change that it would wait until the fall. Apple has never released a new iPhone without a new version of iOS ready.

Few expect Apple to delay the iPhone 5 until 2012 since fierce competition from Android would leave Apple too exposed.

By Electronista Staff

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