Talk of iPad shortages may be history if reports of Apple’s new marching orders for suppliers are true. Apple CEO Steve Jobs, after doubling iPads built to 2 million, recently ordered 3 million iPads for the fourth quarter of 2010, according to one analyst.
The figure puts Apple on track to ship 36 million iPads in calendar year 20111, just shy of the 40 million iPads expected to be purchased next year, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.
In late August, we reported Apple had shrunk iPad shipping delays to 24 hours, down from more than a week. Reports at the time indicated Apple’s decision to order 3 million more iPad displays from Samsung (in a $240 million deal) was paying-off.
One suggested reason why Apple is telling suppliers to put their foot to the floor is that the Cupertino, Calif. company anticipates Google’s expected Android tablet and wants anyone looking for an iPad to find one.
