Apple has yet to release a production roadmap for the iPhone 5, according to manufacturers in Taiwan. This is believed to be due to the fact that shipment volumes of the iPhone 4 are still strong.
According to a report in the Taiwanese newspaper DigiTimes Telecom, sales of the iPhone 4 have continued to mount and suppliers are not ready yet to shift their production lines for new products.
There is speculation that Apple may delay the iPhone 5 until September or even 2012 because of a shortage of upstream components, particularly touchscreen display technology.
No sign of a slowdown on iPhone 4 demand
Touch panel suppliers in the Far East have not yet seen a timetable to stop current production in preparation for a next-generation iPhone.
There is also speculation that Apple intends a major design overhaul for the iPhone 5 requiring significant realignment efforts with component suppliers and manufacturers.
However, competition from rival platforms like Google’s Android – which is experiencing 350,000 activations daily, according to Gartner – may force Apple’s hand and possibly reveal an entry-level next-generation iPhone, according to DigiTimes.
