Taiwan's Quanta to join Foxconn as iPad 2 supplier: report

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TAIPEI: Taiwan's Quanta Computer will assemble Apple's iPad when the US giant releases the second generation of the popular tablet next year, local media reported Thursday.

Foxconn is currently the sole supplier of the iPads, but that will change when Quanta -- already the leading manufacturer of Apple's MacBook series -- gets a share of the coveted contract in 2011, the Economic Daily News said.

Neither Quanta nor Hon Hai Precision, the Taiwan mother company of Foxconn, would comment on the report.

Chang Li of the Taipei Computer Association expected Apple to unveil iPad 2 next month at the US International Consumer Electronics Show, the world's leading consumer electronics trade show.

"Considering the average lifecycle of about six months for consumer electronics, Apple is likely to unveil the improved version of iPad in January, most likely at the CES show," he said.

"In so doing, Apple would be able to keep its tablet products in the limelight."

Kuo Ming-chi, of Taipei-based IT product market researcher Digitimes, said he anticipated the new iPad to hit the US market in April, citing sources from several Taiwanese parts suppliers.

Apple has sold more than eight million of the tablets since it went on sale in April but could have sold more if enough were produced, experts say. The cheapest iPad costs 499 dollars in the US while the top model is priced at 829 dollars.