iPhone 4G Part Manufacturing Commences - Report

A Korean site claims to have heard from industry sources that part manufacturers are already working on the new iPhone’s case. Particularly, The Chosun IIbo reveals that production of the 5-megapixel cameras for Apple’s iPhone 4G has been kicked off at a plant in Gumi (owned by LG Innotek). According to the report, mass production is set to begin in the second half of this year.

The report in question specifically states that, “LG Innotek will supply 5-megapixel cameras for Apple's next-generation smartphone, the iPhone 4G,” citing “the industry.” The Chosun IIbo claims to have received word on this yesterday, adding that, “The electronics component maker began producing the sophisticated cameras at its plant in Gumi this month and will mass produce them starting in the second half of this year.” Gumi is the second largest city in South Korea. Located on the Nakdong River, half way between Daegu and Gimcheon, it also lies on the Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu Line railway - the main traffic routes in the territory, according to Wikipedia.

Should this report be accurate, Apple’s iPhone 4G would not be released until late summer. While this is possible, it doesn’t fall well with the Mac maker’s annual event schedule. All major iterations of the iPhone have been publicly unveiled in summer, so far. However, the new iPhone (which, as many should know, has caused a stir) is architecturally quite different from current-generation devices, going by the information leaked by Gizmodo this month. This may well force Apple to rewrite its agenda, and schedule an iPhone event for June, or July 2010. A fall unveiling of the new device isn’t out of the question either, provided that The Chosun IIbo’s claims are accurate. Moreover, nothing is known about other part suppliers – whether or not they’re on track to deliver the goods in tandem with the others.

There is still debate as to whether the finished product will be identical to the prototype leaked to Gizmodo earlier this month. Softpedia itself posted a personal thoughts report on this subject, suggesting that at least some design features would not look quite the same upon shipping.