Continued manufacturing problems with the white iPhone 4 prompted Apple this morning to announce another delay in the model’s availability. In a statement, the Cupertino, Calif. company said the white model won’t be available until “later this year.”
“White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected,” Apple added. The company emphasized the delay will not affect the availability of the black iPhone 4, however.
Just last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the white iPhone 4 would be available in the second half of July. The statement was made during a news conference where Apple explained it would give free protective cases to iPhone 4 owners through Sept. 30.
Although Apple did not describe what manufacturing problems were holding up the white iPhone 4, a hint was provided earlier this week. A Chinese manufacturer, Lens Technology, is still working to balance opacity with lens thickness, reports said. The same reports said the work had slowed production to three display panels per hour.
