Parts for New iPhone Are Now Shipping, Source Says

Taiwan-based component suppliers are said to have begun shipping parts for what seems to be a new Apple iPhone. Apple's part suppliers have been previously rumored to be shipping hardware for an upcoming Apple device.

9to5mac has picked up on a DigiTimes story citing the Chinese-language Commercial Times as saying that “Taiwan-based handset component suppliers have begun shipping components and parts for the new iPhone that Apple is likely to launch in June.” Although the report is rather ambiguous, the Chinese-language Commercial Times has quoted sources at component suppliers as indicating that “shipments of the old and new iPhones could top 2-3 million units, respectively, a quarter after Apple launches the new models.”

Citing the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN), the International Business Times reported in January that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) were likely “to land chip orders for Apple's low-cost, entry-level iPhone nano.” At the time, neither of the two publications provided any evidence that the iPhone nano was indeed a possibility next year. However, the Chinese paper did go to claim that chip orders were likely to come as early as March 2009, enabling Apple to launch iPhone nano sometime around June.

The same tech-focused DigiTimes later (March 2009) discovered that Taiwan-based manufacturer Wintek was working closely with Apple to develop "some new products." The new devices appeared to be Apple netbooks / Mac tablets with touch-sensitive screens. At the time, the site cited the same Chinese-language Commercial Times as saying that “Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for Apple's new netbook, and shipments will start in the third quarter this year. Wintek revealed that it is currently working with Apple to develop some new products, but it said it does not know what applications the new products are for.”