Apple designating suppliers for iPhone 5, iPad 2

Mid-2011 launch slated

A report on a Chinese web site is suggesting that Apple has already enlisted Taiwanese component manufacturers to supply parts for for both the iPhone 5 and the iPad 2.

The China Economic News Service says without the slightest conjectural suggestion that Qualcomm will be supplying 3G wireless chips for both of the as-yet-unannounced devices and that they will be released in mid 2011. Not should be... or might be. Will be!

The report also states that Qualcomm will contract out much of the production to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) despite the fact that the company says its 65nm production lines are currently swamped with existing orders.

Apple has reportedly been forced to move to Qualcomm after Intel snapped up previous supplier Infineon's wireless chip division.