Sep 17, 2010 10:42 GMT  ·  By

A generally accurate source of information regarding Apple’s short and long term plans recently had a word with Taiwan-based component suppliers to find out how things were going on the iPad front for Apple.

DigiTimes claims to have learned from these component suppliers including touch panel and reinforced glass suppliers for Apple's iPad that validation is being completed with the Cupertino giant for a “second-generation 9.7-inch iPad.”

The suppliers reportedly added that Apple expects them to start shipments for the second-generation iPad at the beginning of 2011.

As such, the new-generation tablet is expected to drop in the first quarter of 2011, thus corroborating recent rumors putting Apple on track to launch its second take at the iPad early next year.

The component suppliers reportedly specified for DigiTimes that “The new capacity of TPK Touch Solutions and Wintek, the 4.5G plant of Cando, and the 4.5G plant of Chimei Innolux (CMI) are […] completing validation of ultra-thin glass-based touch panels with Apple.”

No indication was given as to what the 2nd-gen iPad would boast in terms of new features, but many expect Apple to make FaceTime a selling point of the new device.

Apple was formerly believed to plan the introduction of a smaller, 7-inch version of the iPad, with Samsung knowing of such plans when it had reportedly decided move away from a 10-inch tablet, which would rival Apple’s current 9.7-inch iPad.

Later, a report quoting a person with proven knowledge of Apple's future product plans revealed that a revamped iPad was about to launch in the coming months, in a departure from Apple’s 12 month product cycle for iOS device refreshes.

Apple has every reason to build on the current iPad’s success, according to a recent study conducted by market research firm Technology Business Research, Inc. (TBR), which reveals that tablets like Apple’s are on track to displace many consumers’ secondary PCs.

TBR believes the Apple iPad is actively creating a third major device category for personal computing and connectivity.