Sharp to start LCD production for the Apple iPhone 5S next month

A report in Tuesday's Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, a daily Japanese newspaper, says that Sharp will be using its Kameyama Plant No. 1 to produce displays for the Apple iPhone 5S starting next month. That particular plant, with maximum capacity of 600 million units a month, was underutilized last year with the plant running at only 40% of capacity.

Other companies in the region are said to be already mass producing the screens for the phone. Those companies include Japan Display, which is a company made up of the display producing capabilities of Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba, and LG Display. In the meantime, Sharp's performance over the last few years can be described as "faltering" which has forced the once mighty Japanese electronics firm to seek cash infusions from companies like Foxconn and Samsung.

The Apple iPhone 5S is expected to keep the same 4 inch display as on the iPhone 5 but will add a fingerprint sensor, a faster A7 processor and have iOS 7 pre-installed. Rumored problems with the fingerprint sensor are said to be the main reason for a delay in the release of the phone. Also expected out later this year is a low-cost version of Apple's iconic smartphone to be produced for emerging markets like China and India. On Monday, parts supplier ETrade said that it had received word that such a device is planned for launch sometime this year.

source: NikkanKogyoShimbun (translated) via AppleInsider