White iPhone 4 Supplies Could Be Incredibly Limited

**Michael Essany** · 07-19-2010, 09:53 AM

If the iPhone 4's recent wave of negative press has adversely impacted sales of the device, no one is able to notice. With more than three million fourth-gen iPhones now in consumer hands, the product is Apple's biggest success in the smartphone space to date. But with that overwhelming demand comes natural supply concerns. And if new reports relating to the white iPhone 4's production are legitimate, we will have a better understanding of yet another production issue keeping supply far behind demand.

Over the weekend, Chinese newspaper "21st Century Business Herald" points some degree of blame for the sluggish iPhone 4 production on a China-based factory called "Lens Technology," which makes the white iPhone 4’s front panel. The production problem, as noted by the publication, relates to the alleged ability to only produce three units per hour. The difficulty comes from the delicate work necessary to properly balance white paint levels and opacity. Despite these reports, which came after Apple's press conference on Friday, Steve Jobs maintains that the white iPhone 4 will ship by the end of this month - a timeframe that is rapidly approaching.

But based on what we know from the slow but steady grind at Lens Technology, the present production capacity can only turn out half the units Apple needs to meet anticipated customer demand for the color-alternative iPhone 4. While mass-producing a phone that is simply a different color may seem like a simple-minded if not brainless task, the number of complexities associated with producing a white iPhone are supposedly quite substantial. According to an in-depth look into the white iPhone 4 production process, Engadget says the manufacturing requires "developing the tooling, cutting the raw material (mainly sourced from Germany, Switzerland and Japan), fine-milling using CNC (computed numerically controlled) machines, sanding the edges, polishing, strengthening, cleaning, coating, screen printing, baking, anti-shatter treatment, assembling, and packaging."

21st Century Business Herald

**holdemdogg** · 07-19-2010, 09:57 AM

Figured this but I'll still wait in line for one

**KartRacer** · 07-19-2010, 09:58 AM

They can't be that hard to make, hell there's all kinds of products that have painted glass. I hope they get it moving soon though, I need a white back for my phone!

**ssfirme** · 07-19-2010, 10:00 AM

Jailbreak

**kokowawa** · 07-19-2010, 10:01 AM

I love this color

**porshh951** · 07-19-2010, 10:04 AM

Any word one when/if you can order one via website? Would they be willing to take a pre-order?

**whereswaldo** · 07-19-2010, 10:06 AM

I'll wait for it

**santacruzlocal** · 07-19-2010, 10:08 AM

It's UGLY, I wouldn't rock this if you paid me !!! (Not Really)

**allicatmeow** · 07-19-2010, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by ssfirme

Jailbreak

shut up and wait.

**anty3139** · 07-19-2010, 10:10 AM

They have to hold the phone a certain way, if not it looses signal.

**luvmytj** · 07-19-2010, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by ssfirme

Jailbreak

Your pestering should speed things up, thanks!

I had the white 16gb, but I am not sure the wait is worth it this time around. For some reason, I liked the look of the 3G in white better than the 4G.

**le_harve** · 07-19-2010, 10:23 AM

Isnt there an app to just make it white

**tudtran** · 07-19-2010, 10:25 AM

I didn't like the white iPhone 3GS. For some reason, the white iPhone 4 is very nice.

**-_-** · 07-19-2010, 10:29 AM

I see a white iPhone i want to paint it black....

**Scouse84** · 07-19-2010, 10:32 AM

The White is damn horrible black just looks the business I think the White is aimed at women if I seen a bloke with a White iPhone 1 word would come into mind straight away ***!!

Originally Posted by ssfirme

Jailbreak

I have an app to make this clown disappear

**kuhndsn** · 07-19-2010, 10:32 AM

I don't see how it adversely impacted sales of the device. Do you look at product sales especially in relation to prior sales? Economics is a great thing.

No white model for me. The wife perhaps but I like the blk personally. It will be amazing though. People will start hating all over again with the exception. Damn APPLE they should have released it at the same time so we won't have to read the same stupid hate posts. ;-)

**Trooper Sam** · 07-19-2010, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by luvmytj

I had the white 16gb, but I am not sure the wait is worth it this time around. For some reason, I liked the look of the 3G in white better than the 4G.

I think white worked better on the 3G/3GS because it contrasted with the black front. Now, it's just ALL white. It loses something with that.

**kuhndsn** · 07-19-2010, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Trooper Sam

I think white worked better on the 3G/3GS because it contrasted with the black front. Now, it's just ALL white. It loses something with that.

Agree but it is like the original ipod. Throw back uniforms..

**vedavis** · 07-19-2010, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Scouse84

The White is damn horrible black just looks the business I think the White is aimed at women if I seen a bloke with a White iPhone 1 word would come into mind straight away ***!!

Takes one to know one...

**Donald Trumps Hair** · 07-19-2010, 10:46 AM

Fugly

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