Feb 22, 2011 12:45 GMT  ·  By

Analysts Vincent Chen and Alison Chen with Taiwan-based research firm Yuanta Securities Co. issued a note signaling that Apple’s iPad 2 will be delayed until June this year.

Reports quote Chen as saying that the research firm’s checks suggest roadblocks are being encountered with the production of the next-generation iPad, but that steps are being taken to overcome them.

Chen reportedly noted that “the delay in iPad 2 shipments may give the Android camp a brief window of opportunity,” as several Android 3.0 tablets are to be launched in April and May.

According to the analysts, the delay was caused by design changes made before the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

A June release of the iPad 2 would coincide with the presumed launch of the iPhone 5, a product Apple is reportedly working to bring into production soon, including a white version.

Apple’s iPad was launched in January 2010.

The Cupertino, California-based electronics vendor is notorious for its precise product refresh schedules which generally see the unveiling of a 2.0 iteration - whether it’s a new iPhone, or new Macintosh computers - in the same month of the year to follow.

Apple was also said to have already planned the introduction of a third-generation of iPads for fall 2011, to better compete against a horde of Android-based tablets set to emerge this year.

Such plans may have to be postponed by the current iPad 2 delay.

Recent checks with Apple resellers and various other distributors of Apple products have turned up low or depleted iPad stock, in what is regarded as a clear sign that Apple has reduced factory orders for the current-generation of tablets.

9to5mac reported yesterday that UK official reseller Carphone Wearhouse was sold out of the 64 GB WiFi-only iPad, as well as 3G models.

Official iPad 3G carriers in Europe Orange and T-Mobile have reportedly cut their price offerings to half on the 3G SKUs for customers who sign 2-year contracts.

Finally, major European product distributor Ingram Micro is also sold out of the 16 GB WiFi-only iPad, as well as the 64 GB WiFi-only model, and the 64 GB WiFi + 3G version of the iPad, the same report said.