(We call the imminent iPhone 5 “El Cinco” around these parts because it enhances the air of mystery surrounding the product). All Things D reports that Foxconn, the manufacturing company that actually builds iPhones for Apple, is producing 150,000 El Cincos per day as the expected October launch approaches. Current estimates put 4th quarter iPhone 5 sales at around 22 million units although that could shoot way up if, as is widely rumored, Sprint gets the iPhone as well. It could rapidly become a question of whether supply can keep up with demand. And if that’s an issue, life will likely become a lot worse for overextended Foxconn workers, who will work longer hours in conditions that have already been widely complained about among human rights organizations. So good news for Apple, good news for Sprint, good news for gadget fans, terrible news for Chinese workers.
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