Foxconn Looks To Double iPhone Output At Zhengzhou Factory

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Word out of China has recently arrived suggesting that any future concerns about iPhone shortages may be unfounded, an especially encouraging bit of news considering that we’re expecting not only a new iPhone this year–the actual iPhone 5–but also at least one potential new iPad. In fact, the current reports even suggest that Foxconn, one of Apple’s suppliers involved in iPhone assembly, may be expanding to such a degree as to do something frankly unexpected.

Foxconn recently opened up a factory in Zhengzhou, but apparently some growing pains are already being felt as word is that they’re already planning an expansion to the tune of $1.1 billion US, which would fully double its manufacturing capabilities. Not only would this mean that the Zhengzhou plant would be able to put out 400,000 iPhones per day (which would mean that they could essentially make an iPhone for every person on the planet in about 40 years), as well as making this the planet’s largest iPhone manufacturer. But from the sounds of the report, they may not be using all that capacity just to make iPhones.

The reports suggest that some of the manufacturing capacity of the Zhengzhou Foxconn plant might go to other smartphones. This isn’t exactly a big concern, of course, as Foxconn does a lot of manufacturing for a lot of different players, including Sharp, Google and Samsung, among others, but still, Foxconn putting its growing manufacturing capabilities to work on other smartphones is doubtless something of a blow to Apple.

PR and issues of saving face aside, however, this does bode well for future iPhone releases, which have often seen rapid selling-out of preorder stock as well as actual in-store stock. This should mean that we’re all much, much more likely to be able to get hands on an iPhone 5 when they finally come out, likely late 2012.

So what do you guys think about all this? Will Foxconn’s updated facilities mean lower wait times and more available stock of iPhone 5 models, when they emerge? Do you think prices will drop with increased availability? Or do you think Apple will simply keep stockpiles on hand and release them gradually to offer the appearance of scarcity? No matter what your opinion on this, the comments section is waiting for you below!