Inventec Appliances says it will start shipping Apple’s HomePod smart speaker late this year, which matches Apple’s December launch date.
In a note to clients, Fubon Securities analyst Arthur Liao predicts the Apple supplier will ship 500,000 units of HomePod in 2017 and that the late-launching device will contribute less than 1% of the company’s revenues. Next year, the company will reportedly have to split HomePod orders with Hon Hai Precision Industry or Foxconn, likely due to Apple’s dislike for relying on one supplier.
Apple’s HomePod is expected to go on sale in December and cost $349. The device is just under seven inches tall and looks like a piece of furniture. It will be available in both space gray and white, and also acts as a hub for HomeKit devices to provide remote access to home automation.
