iPad 3 and iPhone 5 ready for production in August, could this mean an NFC iWallet is in the cards?

iPad 3 and iPhone 5 upstream suppliers are beginning to prepare materials to be ready for production to start in August. Another day, another set of Apple rumors start to circulate. There have been rumbles that Apple could release its iPad 3 this year, but the rumors have been vague at best. But now it appears that may be changing. At this time there is really no product other than the Samsung Galaxy Tab that even comes close to Apple’s current iPad 2 offering, which makes it surprising that the company would launch a new iPad 3 slate only 6 months after the last.

Something is not right with Apple’s refresh schedule this year for the iPad 3 and iPhone 5

When we look at Apple’s refresh rate for any product this would probably be one of the shortest run cycles of any product in the company’s portfolio. Although stranger things have happened. After all no one expected the iPhone 4 to be in service for a year and three months before being usurped by the new iPhone 5, as Apple has traditionally refreshed in June or July of each year with its iPhone products.

So, assuming that the rumors are true – what would make Apple want to not receive its full ROI of a product that presumably cost a lot of time and money to develop? The only conclusion is that Apple needs to own a certain market, and that it will need the combined market saturation of both the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 to dominate whatever this mystery market is. It would also allow us to assume that the current iPhone or iPad does not have the capability to run with whatever Apple has in store. Hmmm, in store… iPhone 5, iPad 3, in store…

Could it be that Apple is readying itself to launch its own NFC wallet? Could it be by September we could all be proud owners of iWallet‘s? It would make a lot of sense that if Apple is going to unveil its NFC offerings that it may view market capitalization as a time sensitive issue based on the fact that the market is already maturing without them. We have already seen sneak peaks at what they have in mind for NFC with the iTravel app so we know it is on the cards. Plus it would make sense that Apple would want its top two product lines (iPad 3 and iPhone 5) to be NFC-enabled on launch of a service that could potentially change the industry landscape. This could also explain why Apple announced its iOS 5 in June but wouldn’t launch it until the fall. Do bear in mind, we are speculating on speculation and whereas this could happen, rumors thus far suggest that no NFC product, whether that be the iPad 3 or iPhone 5, will be offered by Apple this year. But it might, just might be what is actually going on in Cupertino.

6 – 7 million iPhone 5 units are projected to be produced in the third quarter

Foxconn, or as like like to call themselves Hon Hai Precision Industry (assembles both products), Simplo Technologies, Dynapack International Technology (Batteries), TPK Holding and Wintek (Touch panel modules), Catcher (chassis) and Largan Precision (webcams) are expected to benefit from Apple orders. iPhone orders for the year (2011), including iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 units, is forecasted to be 85 million iPhones shipped.

The iPad has the potential to sell up to 40 million units by the time this year is done especially is the iPad 3 is added to the lineup. For more production information, hit up the source link.

Small production runs of the iPad 3 are slated for August, ramping up after that

Sources have revealed to DigiTimes that Apple only plans to launch one model of the new iPhone 5 while iPad 3 has recently been added to the production schedule. We are a little confused by this statement unless it means that Apple’s new iPhone 5 is due to skate along on LTE with 3G as a back up. Both Verizon and AT&T are due to have LTE services this year. That seems a little premature with limited market availability of those wonderful LTE signals, unless Apple knows something we do not. Well, we are sure they know lots of things we do not, but we are unsure whether carrier LTE plans are among them and then if so, it is knowledge that means they would feel comfortable supporting just LTE. We doubt that very much and think it may just mean that the iPhone 5 is the world phone we have heard rumored before that will work on both networks.

iPad 3 and iPhone 5 to be NFC enabled?

The other rumor circulating about the iPad 3 is that it will rock a 250dpi display. This rumor has been circulating since before the introduction of the iPad 2, and clues have been found in Apple code to suggest this may be valid. Frustratingly, there has been no word on any orders placed with NXP Semiconductors or any of their competitors. There will be more rumors coming regarding the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 and we will keep you in the know.