The Times: Apple's 3G iPhone Order Is Already In to Manufacturers

British newspaper The Times is reporting that Apple has already placed its order for the 3G iPhone.

"Times Online understands that Apple has placed an order with its Asian suppliers to produce 200,000 of the new 3G iPhones by the end of May, rising to 2 million - 500,000 per week - in June."

It's important to note that the iPhone is not currently being manufactured. The FCC hasn't yet approved the device yet, and due to the public nature of FCC documentation, as soon as it's approved we will know (but not before the actual approval). So, it's possible that Apple has sent over the schematics and has run the numbers past the manufacturers and is now shooting the breeze waiting for the FCC.

Is the iPhone undergoing the FCC approval process right now? If they were, I'd think Apple would have introduced the 3G iPhone already. Since Apple doesn't control when the FCC releases the approval documentation, they could be taking a chance that the documentation would be released before they could announce the 3G phone and place their own marketing spin on it. Of course, maybe Apple doesn't care so much anymore about complete and total secrecy and control now that the initial iPhone has been long released to the world. I wouldn't bank on that though.