TAIPEI/HONG KONG: Apple's new iPhone will drop the wide dock connector used in the company's gadgets for the best part of a decade in favor of a smaller one, a change likely to annoy the Apple faithful but which could be a boon for accessory makers.

The iPhone 5, Apple's next generation iPhone expected to go on sale around October, will come with a 19-pin connector port at the bottom instead of the proprietary 30-pin port "to make room for the earphone moving to the bottom", two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

That would mean the new phone would not connect with the myriad of accessories such as speakers and power chargers that form part of the ecosystem around iPods, iPads and iPhones, without an adaptor.

That means new business, analysts say.

"It represents an opportunity for accessory vendors," said Pete Cunningham, London-based analyst at technology research firm Canalys. "The iPhone connector has been a standard for a long time now and I would expect the same to be true for a new connector, should Apple change it as expected."

Apple did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Tech blogs have long speculated on the demise of the 30-pin connector, which at 21 mm wide takes up a chunk of space, especially as the latest technologies such as microUSB offer more power in less space.

They say that a smaller connector would give Apple more scope for new product designs or a bigger battery, or simply to make ever smaller products.

Switzerland's Logitech, one of the biggest makers of Apple speakers, declined to comment.

Billyonaire: Who cares ?

Kolade9: i careS

TroGunn:

I don'ts.

Billyonaire: Who cares ?

Abrantie: Who gives a sh!!t about Apple? While Samsung is coming up with Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, microSD up to 64 GB,Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a gazillion true innovations, crAPPLE is shrinking connectors a la 1995.

How did this post end up on the front page any way?

druid06: Once you've used an Apple product, you can never go back. iCare.

Once you've used an Apple product, you can never go back. iCare.

lukkie: Why get an Apple when i can get a Lumia?

druid06: Once you've used an Apple product, you can never go back. iCare.

TroGunn:

I don't careS.

lakeside2: Plz am aving problem wit my iphone 4x,i dnt knw how to go abt d sim

idowuswap: Hey na yoruba all tribe tey dey sing now hey thank jah....kai we are great in nation......