Chinese financial analytics group KGI places the blame for the shortage of iPhone 5 Lightning connectors on Apple’s changing of cable suppliers. At present, the Apple online store is showing 2-3-week delivery times for the new Lightning to USB cables.

Apple originally had Foxconn producing its 30-pin dock connectors, whereas they have looked to Foxlink to supply the new Lightning cable – the move has seen lower yield rates and Apple is said to be unimpressed, with AppleInsider reporting that Apple has asked the company to dedicate more workers and production lines to the new cable.

Of course, none of this would have been a problem if Apple had decided to play nice and just stick a Micro USB port in the latest line of i-devices.

As Guy Kawasaki so eloquently stated:

This connector thing, I think it’s pure arrogance,” said Kawasaki. “Well, if the goal was really to save space why didn’t you just go to a micro USB like everybody else in the world, and we could all get a cable at 7-11 for $5.

KGI can blame supplier changes and low production yields for the shortage, but Apple shouldn’t have created a proprietary standard – adopting something that is used across the board would have been the environmentally responsible thing to do. At any rate, it shouldn’t be too long before the Chinese knock-offs start to roll out – for a fraction of that ridiculous $19 price tag.

[Image: @redban]