iPod touch shipments delayed due to component shortage

Apple has had to delay volume shipments of the iPod touch due to a shortage of touch screen panels, according to a DigiTimes report. The report claims that “Apple originally planned to rapidly grow global shipments up to the year-end holidays. However, due to the shortage of touch screen panels, volume shipments have been pushed back to this month.” This delay has also affected flash memory prices, which were expected to recover based on strong demand for the iPod touch. Due to the delay, NAND flash producers were not able to make planned deliveries to Apple, and as a result have had to find other vendors to purchase their products. The report adds, “In the long-term it is unlikely prices in the flash market will stabilize.” [via MacWorld UK]