Foxconn has mystery US shipment orders

Foxconn might be quietly delivering at least some iPad 3 units if a UPS manifest is an indicator. The contract manufacturer is believed to be shipping a high security delivery from Chengdu that would go first to Shanghai and then to Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, all done by March 9 and most no later than March 6. Security would be tight enough that even the time for shipments to be left on the airport ramp would be kept to a minimum.

While it's difficult to know what the contents are to verify the story, it coincides with the talk of a March 7 unveil date for a third-generation iPad. Apple is known to go to great lengths to mask shipments, even getting them out of public record altogether in one case, all to make sure that a launch is an actual surprise.

The shipments might not be retail store stock or for the new iPad. One possibility raised has been an Apple TV refresh that could be arriving at the same time. Apple hasn't yet had a major iOS device release that was scheduled for the same day, but it might make an exception for a mild update to its media hub.

The new iPad may be more likely to arrive at the end of the following week, on March 16. Current beliefs are that it will largely keep the existing price structure and that there may be a holdover iPad 2 model at a cheaper price to squeeze competitors and drive up demand. [via Apple.pro]

By Electronista Staff