3G iPhone Shipments to Top 3 million Units in June

The Taiwan Economic News reported today that Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co has apparently received an order to make 25 million units of the 3G iPhone and would begin shipments in June.

Back in March, Taiwan’s Hon Hai secured an exclusive contract to assemble a more advanced version of iPhone.

At that time, Bank of America analyst - Scott Craig - said that Apple plans to build some 11 million iPhone units - three million in the quarter starting May and another eight million in the third quarter.

The online report by The Taiwan Economic News says Apple plans to diversify its iPhone product line in order to widen its reach in the mobile phone market. The new models will weigh  up to 45 grams less than the 135 gram weight of the current iPhone model.

The report suggests 3G iPhone will also offer a 2.8-inch screen, rather than the 3.5-inch screen currently offered on the iPhone. The new 3G iPhone model will replace its’ current display of aluminum magnesium with a smaller plastic casing.

The Chinese-language Commercial Times has also cited sources at component suppliers as saying they have been instructed by Apple to begin preparing material supplies by the end of May.

Shipments of the 3G iPhone are expected to top three million units in June with the model likely to ship a total of 25 million units throughout its life-cycle, the paper added.

Apple is widely expected to announce a 3G version iPhone at or around Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2008 (WWDC 2008) in June based on the current high market demand for the device, plus the proposed timing of the announcement, approximately one year after Apple launched the first-generation iPhone.