Foxconn shipping fewer iPhone 4s as new model looms

Another sign of an imminent product refresh in Cupertino, California: Contract manufacturer Foxconn has shipped fewer iPhone 4s during the month of August as Apple is gearing up to launch a new model. DigiTimes has the story:

Industry observers said Foxconn’s shipments of iPhone 4 may have decreased in August because of inventory adjustments ahead of the launch of the new iPhone model.

9to5Mac heard from sources, too, that iPhone 4 supplies are becoming constrained globally. Surprisingly, iPod touch supplies show no sign of dwindling. You probably know that somewhere in China there are stacks of finished iPhone 5s, waiting for that iOS 5 Golden Master to be preloaded in a matter of week or two.

Industry estimates call for 5-6 million iPhone 5 units during the month of September. Total iPhone 5 shipments in the holiday quarter are expected to reach 22+ million units, supply chain sources claim. That figure easily beats the 20+ million iPhones (which includes all models) that Apple moved during the June quarter of this year. If ChangeWave Research is to be believed, Apple will face “unprecedented” global demand for the fifth-generation iPhone. Also of note…

…ChangeWave found out that the resignation of Steve Jobs from his CEO post “is having little impact on the demand for Apple products”. Only four percent of the 2,297 respondents surveyed between September 6-12 said the resignation makes them Less Likely to buy Apple gear in the future versus a healthy 89 percent who responded that it’s having No Effect on their purchasing of Apple products, as seen in the chart below.