Digitimes: iPad 2 Touch Panel Cover Supply Is The Bottleneck

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imagesipad2

According to Digitimes, iPad 2 supply might not be constrained by touch panels, but rather by the cover lenses needed for the touch panel modules.

Although Apple has reportedly sold between 2.4 to 2.5 million iPad 2s in March alone, and it’s thought that once supply ramps up, Apple may be able to ship over four million units per month through the coming financial quarter.

However, all of these plans could be stymied unless manufacturers ramp up their production of the necessary lens component. Right now, TPK Touch Solutions and G-Tech Optoelectronics are trying to produce more cover lenses for the iPad 2, along with competing devices… and many sales will be determined by their ability to cope with surprise demand.

At their EOY financial call, Apple COO Tim Cook made it clear that he thought Apple could have sold more iPads if they could have made enough of them to satisfy demand. He may very well be saying something similar at EOY 2011.

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