Next-gen iPad case listings were removed because of legitimate request

As you may remember, a month ago few cases purported to be for the next-gen iPad were spotted online. They had space for rear camera and a cutout on the bottom admittedly made for SD-card slot. Later other cases were unveiled on the international trading site Alibaba.com, which showed that there is a large speaker grille on the back of the case.

According to the Wall Street Journal, last week Alibaba.com was requested to remove the listings of the cases presumably designed for the next-gen iPad.

John Spelich, who is a spokesman for Alibaba Group, didn't tell the source of the request.

"We do not know whether this products are what they say they are, but we have received a legitimate takedown request and are removing the listings".

The WSJ went further and called to one of the case suppliers, and a man who answered the phone but didn't reveal his name said that his company is a partner of Apple manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry. He commented on the situation and called the design of its cases "extremely accurate".

Spokespeople for Hon Hai denied any connection between their company and case listings of Alibaba.com. The case supplier's remarks were called "hostile".

This is not a first rumor on the next-gen iPad. Previously it was rumored that the device will have a USB port, and that Apple will release a CDMA-version of it.