Apple iPad delay rumours possibly confirmed by Foxconn suppliers?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 04 March 2010 09:29

Your IT - Home IT

Although news reports suggest that Foxconn, the parent company of Hon Hai Precision, has claimed that 'supplies are on schedule', the numbers of iPads due looks set to be higher than analyst Misek's claim of only 300,000 iPads, but less than Apple's target of 1,000,000 in March - so is there lower production or not?

The iPad rumours are raging thick and fast in the last three weeks before the iPad is due to hit retail shelves 'in late March' as Apple promised, with the even more desirable 3G and GPS equipped version due 30 days after that.

First up was Peter Misek from Canaccord Adams, scaring the bejesus out of ardent Apple fans desperate to get their hands of the Jesus Tablet, or Jesus Pad.

He suggested that Hon Hai Precision, part of Foxconn, had 'unspecified production problems' that would see the expected initial shipment of 1,000,000 Wi-Fi iPads drop to only 300,000 in the crucial first month of production when the success or otherwise of the iPad launch will be widely reported on.

This was quickly followed by a report from The Examiner suggesting a March 26 launch was 'very likely' after all, delivering on Apple's promise of a late March launch after all.

One of the leaks from The Examiner was that the 3G version wouldn't be available until April or May, but is this so surprising? April comes after March, which dovetails nicely with the view that the 3G version would appear 30 days after the Wi-Fi version.

A May launch could indicate a delay, and lend some 'truth' to the Misek report, but if Misek is wrong, then the Canaccard analyst will be accused of delivering a canard.

It all depends, on course, when precisely in May the 3G/GPS iPad is delivered. If it's early in May, then the delay is but a few days. If it's late in May, then the 'unspecified production problem' Misek mentioned could well be accurate. We'll just have to wait and see on that one.

So, what is this about Foxconn's suppliers potentially CONFIRMING an iPad delay? Well, it's all down to the wording of what Foxconn is alleged to have said'¦ and some anaylsis of that awaits ye, thee and me on page 2 - please read on!