China Times Reports [Google translation, via Macotakara] that Taiwanese chip firm Chipbond has been selected to provide a number of components
for the iPhone 5S, including the touch display driver as well as chips to
support fingerprint sensor and near field communications (NFC) capabilities.
The report suggests that Apple will use the fingerprint sensor functionality to
enhance the security of NFC features such as mobile payments.
Rumors of
fingerprint sensor technology for the iPhone have ramped up since Apple's acquisition of mobile security firm AuthenTec last year.
AuthenTec has been rumored to be cutting off its fingerprint sensor customers this year,
presumably to focus on supporting Apple's own efforts in the area. Reliable KGI
Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also stated that a fingerprint sensor will
be one of the differentiating features for the iPhone 5S.
NFC has been a
long-standing rumor for the iPhone, and evidence supporting its inclusion for
the iPhone 5 failed to pan out amid claims that the device's design
wouldn't even accommodate an NFC antenna. Some have suggested, however, that Apple could have novel plans up its
sleeve for deploying NFC within the mostly metal case of the iPhone 5 that will
presumably carry over to the iPhone 5S. Still, specific claims of NFC for the
iPhone 5S have been essentially non-existent until now.
Last July, it
was reported that Apple was deliberately moving slowly into the mobile payments field that could tie in
closely to NFC technology. For the time being, Apple is focusing on its
Passbook app to offer a digital wallet of passes, coupons, and loyalty cards,
although it is easy to see how its functionality could be expanded to include
mobile payments and NFC.
Foxconn is
reportedly ready to begin ramping up iPhone 5S production, using the same
production lines currently used for the iPhone 5. [MacRumors]
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