iPad could suffer stock shortages

Analysts have claimed that a shortage of materials could lead to a supply shortage in for the device’s launch, but Apple supplier Foxconn says 700,000 iPads will ship on schedule in March.

According to 9to5Mac, the iPad is set to go on sale in the US around March 26th, and though Foxconn wouldn’t comment on the rumours directly, DigiTimes reports that Foxconn component suppliers have said their supplies are on schedule.

Initial speculation was that a productions bottleneck would delay the iPad launch, but AppleInsider said that the delay would not affect the iPad launch and Apple would ship up to 700,000 in March and another million in April.

The initial delay rumours said that due to an “unspecified production problem” initial supply of the device would be reduced to 300,000 and would affect initial US supply.

But after unofficial response from Foxconn, it seems unlikely that Apple would change the launch date of the iPad. Wall Street analysts are predicting that Apple will sell between one million and five million iPads in its first year.