China's Commercial Daily: iPhone 5 Production Starts in May

[Michael Essany]

On Monday, China's Commercial Times reported that Apple will begin to mass produce the fifth-generation iPhone in May, ahead of the widely anticipated annual June or July roll out of the next-gen Apple smartphone. According to the report, Apple's overseas partners are already gearing up for a massive production schedule that will likely turn out the largest batch of iPhones for a new generation launch.

Ahead of the iPhone 5 production, the Commercial Times noted that iPad 2 production will begin in just weeks as a "small pilot" program. In March, production of the second generation tablet will swing into full gear, placing the iPad 2 on pace for the widely expected April launch. As anticipated, Foxconn will lead the production charge, remaining Apple's largest manufacturing partner, although suppliers - including Pegatron - will play increasingly bigger roles in the forthcoming mass productions.

While there has been much speculation as to the attributes both the iPad 2 and the iPhone 5 will boast, it now appears that the production schedule for both iDevices is much more "concrete" than any uncorroborated evidence of the supposed features that either refreshed product will offer when they finally roll out later this year.

China's Commercial Times (Google Translation)

[Zokunei]

Foxconn makes me sick. I heard they have to put up walls to keep people from jumping off the balconies.

[jdm.accord]

Engadget is saying it'll be a wholesale redesign which I think would be disappointing. The iP4 is so much sexier than any of the phones that are currently out there or that debuted at CES. Just fix the antenna issue and throw in a faster (dual core) processor and I'll be happy. Slimmer wouldn't hurt either lol

[pacmac]

I don't want to hear someone suicide again..

Looks like iPhone 5/iPad 2 will be close to each others release date..time to save up

[Lombardo Joe]

I wanna know for sure what's in it. Where's Gray Powell when you need him? Someone get Jason Chen on the line.

[Zokunei]

Guys, the only thing more annoying than people saying "first" is the five posts that result from it.

[javiert30]

Good, but I think iP5 are not going to be sold like iP4, plus a lot of people that made an upgrade for the iP4 have to wait till at least their earlier upgrade, or pay the full price for something almost the same as iP4, I will wait for something with a big change, maybe iP6 or 7. I dont need more speed, iP4 is enough for me, just give me 4G network.

[primalscream.40]

Good, but I think iP5 are not going to be sold like iP4, plus a lot of people that made an upgrade for the iP4 have to wait till at least their earlier upgrade, or pay the full price for something almost the same as iP4, I will wait for something with a big change, maybe iP6 or 7. I dont need more speed, iP4 is enough for me, just give me 4G network.

Agreed. But then again AT&T might be getting 4g. So that might be in the IP5. To bad I just got mine in October but I have 2 more lines that are coming due an upgrade

[verizon iPhone]

AWESOME!!!!!! my upgrade is in june so i wont have to wait long to get the IP5.........

[iSteed]

Am I mistaken in saying so but doesn't the iPhone 4 already have the capability to run on AT&T's new 4g (3.5) faster network that they have just begun to roll out??

[jdm.accord]

Am I mistaken in saying so but doesn't the iPhone 4 already have the capability to run on AT&T's new 4g (3.5) faster network that they have just begun to roll out??

Yes, you're mistaken.

[DRFP]

Am I mistaken in saying so but doesn't the iPhone 4 already have the capability to run on AT&T's new 4g (3.5) faster network that they have just begun to roll out??

No the wisdom at Apple escapes me, while Android is widely available for 4g Iphone is not.

Now that folks are finally celebrating the iPhone’s imminent arrival to Verizon, speculation has shifted to whether the January model will take advantage of Verizon’s “4G” network. 4G (not to be confused with iPhone 4) refers to the fourth generation of cellular standards, and both Verizon and AT&T have publicly released launch plans for 4G networks based on LTE in 2011.

This impending shift from 3G to 4G presents a major inflection point in the reign of the iPhone franchise. Does Apple move to 4G right away, or do they wait for the network to mature? Recall that Apple waited to support 3G for one entire cycle, opting to release the original iPhone on AT&T’s mature 2.5G EDGE network, despite wide availability of 3G by early 2007.

That situation mirrors what is happening now with LTE in 2011, and as these questions become front and center, I have some very interesting news to share about Apple’s plans.

First things first — the iPhone CDMA model due in January won’t support LTE. But here’s where it gets really interesting: sources tell me that the iPhone refresh in mid-2011 won’t support LTE either. Instead, Apple will produce a dual mode iPhone containing 3G flavors of GSM and CDMA, which operates on all carriers worldwide. If this holds true, Apple won’t support the LTE standard until some time in 2012.

source

Its ok to whine because if you followed Apple Iphone from the start, this planned replacement by them seems to be geared to profits, knowing that people will want the shinny new phone that now does more.

One day it will have a decent camera
One day it will have 3g
one day it will have compass and multitasking
one day it will have a camera for video chat and faster processor with a beautiful screen
one day it will have 4g...........

at 500 or so a pop thats a 2500 day!

The tech is there Apple chooses to release it in steps, honestly my wife loves her Iphone but when we talked about this she said, then we do we not switch to ANdroid? Hmm we can't be the only ones getting tired of the JB saga and Apples "Plan"

[iPittsburgh]

Am I mistaken in saying so but doesn't the iPhone 4 already have the capability to run on AT&T's new 4g (3.5) faster network that they have just begun to roll out??

Actually AT&T is first rolling out hspa+ "4g"(3.5) and then lte "4g"(3.9), whereas verizon has already unveiled their lte but has no phone for it.

And it is pretty sad that apple might not provide a "4g" capable iPhone until 2012.

[DRFP]

Am I mistaken in saying so but doesn't the iPhone 4 already have the capability to run on AT&T's new 4g (3.5) faster network that they have just begun to roll out??

Actually AT&T is first rolling out hspa+ "4g"(3.5) and then lte "4g"(3.9), whereas verizon has already unveiled their lte but has no phone for it.

And it is pretty sad that apple might not provide a "4g" capable iPhone until 2012.

Verizon could have a 4g phone, sprint does.

[iPittsburgh]

I know verizon could have a 4g phone but they don't yet, they just have their 4g hotspot device. I heard verizon isn't releasing a 4g phone for a couple more months.

In all honesty I'm debating whether or not to get the next iPhone or android.

[sub zero]

Atleast the workers look happy lol

[vantheman169]

Bring on the iPhone 5.

[CaptainChaos]

I am skipping the 5. Little things frustrate me about the iPhone like: no removable battery, no carrier selection menu, no way to delete music or movies without using a computer, and I would like a screen the size of the EVO without having to actually go out and buy an EVO. The phone is awesome, don't get me wrong, but I don't see any major improvements luring me into the iPhone 5. The ipad2 however....

[vantheman169]

I am skipping the 5. Little things frustrate me about the iPhone like: no removable battery, no carrier selection menu, no way to delete music or movies without using a computer, and I would like a screen the size of the EVO without having to actually go out and buy an EVO. The phone is awesome, don't get me wrong, but I don't see any major improvements luring me into the iPhone 5. The ipad2 however....

How can you say that, neither of those devices have been unveiled yet...

[Zokunei]

Atleast the workers look happy lol

They aren't.