Asustek, one of the world's largest producers of computer components, has reportedly begun to ship Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles to Sony, strengthening the scenario for a mid-November launch of the highly-anticipated game console. The Chinese-language Apple Daily and Commercial Times reported today that Asustek Computer started shipments of PlayStation 3 game consoles in small volume since the beginning of July, according to Digitimes.com. The paper cited sources at Taiwan component suppliers as saying that about 200,000 component sets were shipped to Asustek in June and the volume will grow this month.

The worldwide debut of the two versions of the PlayStation 3 game consoles (for $499 and $599) will be launched on 11th of November in Japan and on the 17th of November in Australia, Europe, U.S. and other regions.

In addition, Sony will likely place PS3-use Wi-Fi module orders with Taiwan contract suppliers, with CyberTAN Technology being the most likely beneficiary, according to the Apple Daily.

After the first batch of PS3 shipments from Asustek, Foxconn Electronics will also supply Sony's PS3 game consoles when demand rises, indicated the Apple Daily. In September and October, the suppliers estimate to ship more than one million sets to the game console manufacturer, the paper added.

The Playstation 3 is expected to challenge Microsoft's early dominance in the market for next-generation machines. Accumulated global shipments for the PS3 are expected to exceed 100 million units, a record that was set by Sony's earlier games consoles, the PS and PS2, despite the fact that the PS3 will be priced higher than the PS2, according to Tetsuhiko Yasuda, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia.