Whether it is actually going to be called the iPhone 5 or not, from news via M.I.C Gadget it seems that Apple’s primary manufacturer Foxconn are gearing up to start production of the next iPhone. The Chinese company has already received the order from Apple to produce the sixth generation iPhone, and combined with the issue of striking workers Foxconn is now recruiting an astonishing 20,000 new workers to help build the next iDevice.

Foxconn are responsible for 85% of all iPhones produced, and the report states its estimated they’ll have to pump out a huge 57 million devices a year. With the year on year increase in the amount of iPhone sales it’s not surprising Foxconn are needing to ramp up the workforce, especially considering they currently have hundreds of workers striking over pay disputes.

By them starting to ramp up their workforce like this it’s a great sign that the start of production for the ‘iPhone 5′ is imminent. Upon release of the new iPad Pre orders sold out within 24hrs and a whopping 3 million new iPads were sold in the first weekend alone. This is why it’s crucial for Apple to start production as early as possible to have the required amount of ready assembled devices ready to fly off the shelves on release day.
This news also strongly supports current predictions of a Fall/Autumn time release for the new device.