After last week reports that Apple’s manufacturing vendors  had started off production of a smaller iPad, which has been dubbed the  ‘iPad mini’,the Wall Street Journal which has reported the initial story is now reporting Apple has ordered more than 10 million units for the last quarter of this year.

Source of the numbers are said to  comes from Asian component suppliers to Apple.”Some component suppliers to Apple in Asia, including in Taiwan, say they have received orders to make more than 10 million units of the smaller tablets in the fourth quarter. That is roughly double the order that were placed for Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets in the same quarter, these suppliers say.” said the report

Apple hasn’t confirmed any of the myriad reports, rumours and speculation “The figure indicates that Apple believes demand for the product will be strong, despite stiff competition in the market. Apple hasn’t responded to requests for comment on the smaller tablet dubbed by the industry as the iPad mini.” it added.