MacRumors.com

Appleinsider relays a report by China Economic News Service which claims that iPhone component suppliers are expected to begin delivery of their materials to manufacturing facilities by "early April."

If true, this could suggest that rumors that the iPhone may begin shipping early might have some truth to them.

That being said, Apple has maintained that the iPhone will be shipping in June. This expected date was again reinforced during their recent television ad.

Meanwhile, it is important to remember that these component reports tend to be unreliable. A previous China Times report in November had claimed the Foxconn would be shipping 500,000-600,000 iPhones starting in February 2007.