* Suppliers say coating material for the sensor is delaying manufacturing

　　* Believed sensor could be used to unlock the handset and replace passwords

　　苹果公司原本预计今年6月份推出的iPhone 5S可能会推迟发布。英国《每日邮报》网站22日援引路透社的消息称，iPhone 5S中使用的涂层材料与指纹识别传感器互相干扰是导致发布推迟的原因。

　　Apple's next iPhone could be delayed because of problems with a fingerprint sensor, it has been claimed.

　　Supplier sources in Japan and Taiwan, home to dozens of Apple suppliers, said they initially expected mass-production of the next iPhone to begin in June.

　　That date may have begun to slip beyond June, the sources told Reuters.

　　The phone, widely referred to as the iPhone 5S, is expected to include new features such as a fingerprint sensor.

　　However, a supply chain source in Taiwan today told Reuters that Apple was trying to find a coating material that did not interfere with the fingerprint sensor, and this may be causing a delay.

　　In addition to the 5S, suppliers say Apple is also developing a cheaper model, which can appeal to lower-income buyers in growth markets such as China and India.

　　A supplier source in Japan told Reuters small-scale production of display panels will begin in May, ramping up to mass production in June.

　　Both phones will use the same 4-inch screen, but the cheaper version will probably not include the new fingerprint technology and sport a cheaper plastic casing, the sources said.

　　Sources at several Asian suppliers, which for years basked in the glow of Apple's success and enjoyed stock gains even on rumors they might be among the select group of companies to sell components to Apple, told Reuters this week about ever-moving deadlines and said they were trying to reduce their reliance on the company.

　　An Apple supply chain source in Japan said those in the industry often jokingly refer to the company as 'Poison Apple' because of its hard-to-meet high standards and low price expectations.

　　'"Apple can do no wrong" can only work until Apple does wrong,' said Roger Kay, president of researcher and consultancy Endpoint Technologies Associates.

　　'It's like the rubber band effect. The more you stretch it, the more snap you get coming back.'

　　Apple reports quarterly results on Tuesday and declined to comment for this story.

　　It has consistently said it focuses on making the best products - its iPhones remain the industry gold standard - and avoids discussing product strategy.

　　CEO Tim Cook stressed on the last quarterly earnings conference call that it's difficult to paint a complete picture of its production process from 'a few data points.'

　　On Tuesday, Apple is expected to report a mere 8 percent increase in revenue in its fiscal second quarter, among the weakest showings in years, according to average analysts' estimates.

　　And net earnings are expected to inch up just 2 percent as the intensifying competition compresses its margins.