Foxconn Is Partner in Making Apple Tablet, Sources Say

A report indicates that Foxconn will be manufacturing Apple’s much-rumored tabled device. Foxconn, the same company that assembles Apple’s iPhone, expects to have the tablet done by Q1 2010, according to “market sources,” The DigiTimes reports.

In keeping with people familiar with ongoing work over at Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) talking to The DigiTimes, the company “will be the manufacturing partner for an upcoming tablet PC device from Apple.” “The device is expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2010, with initial shipments from Foxconn being in the 300,000-400,000 range,” the same people say, adding that, “The device will have a 10.6-inch display.” Furthermore, “Foxconn could secure panels from its subsidiary Innolux Display,” the sources speculate.

Focusing more on e-book functionality rather than music, the tablet PC will be based on “Apple's marketing strategy, long battery life, quick Internet connectivity and an easy-to-use user interface [...] Players such as Hewlett-Packard (HP) [are expected to] follow suit with their own similar products in the second quarter of 2010,” the sources reportedly add.

Until recently, Apple was believed to at least introduce its tablet device in September 2009, but with September come and gone, speculation has shifted its focus to the holidays. However, it is not Apple’s policy to introduce a revolutionary device such as the iTablet showing pictures on a projecting screen (provided the company has announced the device at an event), promising to launch the mouth-watering product later on. Apple generally unveils and sells on the same day, so the safest bet is probably on a Q1-2010 announcement. But that doesn’t mean we can’t put the puzzle pieces together before Apple makes it official, does it?