Your Next iPhone or iPad Might Be Delayed, Here’s Why

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iPad 2 order
Image used under Creative Commons license, from Flickr user: hddod

Sources in Apple’s supply chain have revealed that Foxconn Electronics is currently facing supply and labor shortages that could delay shipments of both the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2 during the second quarter.

Foxconn, who makes electronics for Apple, HTC, Samsung and Nokia at its Chengdu, China plants, is reportedly suffering shortages of device components, such as power amplifiers and memory, as a result of the Japanese earthquake. Labor also seems to be falling short and as a result, Foxconn could struggle to meet Apple’s demand of 2.5–3 million iPad 2 units each month.

Foxconn has declined to comment on the rumor, but did declare that the company’s capacity is arranged at the request of its clients, and that it will do all it can to satisfy their needs.

I hear those of you still waiting for an iPad 2 crying into your keyboard, but don’t fret; most iPad 2 shipments still come from the company’s plants in Shenzhen, China, so the second-generation tablet may not be affected by delays as much as Apple’s other devices.

Sources also claimed that Apple is currently trying to reach its shipment goal of 35–40 million iPad 2 units during 2011, and that the Cupertino company is pushing its suppliers to provide 10–10.5 million units during the second quarter. That’s over 4 million units more than analysts previously predicted.

[via DigiTimes]

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