Apple\'s iPhone coming?

A new report says that Apple has been approaching suppliers in Taiwan to build its much rumored "iPhone." Insiders at Taiwanese phone maker BenQ said that Apple procurement executives have been talking to various Taiwanese phone makers during the past few months in an effort to cut a manufacturing deal on an iPod Phone, according to SmartHouse: The phone could be launched in the next few months, although parts availability is a concern and the manufacturing contract is still up in the air. "An iPod phone is definitely coming. BenQ will not be making it as we are in competition with Apple however several of our suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. Among manufacturers in Taiwan it is common knowledge. The issue for many is the availabilty of parts if the phone takes off" said the BenQ executive. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster last week indicated a "75 percent chance" of the iPhone debut in the next 12 months, while Bill Shope of J.P Morgan believes Apple will introduce the phone by the fourth quarter of this year, according to the report.

by MacNN Staff