Apple iPhone 5 connector: What you need to know

Apple has risked angering its legions of fans by including a 19-pin connector port in the upcoming iPhone 5, reports have suggested.

This reduction from a 30-pin port would mean that speakers, power chargers and other accessories that beef up the usability of Apple’s smartphones and tablets would only be possible with an adaptor.

Despite this limitation, Pete Cunningham, of London-based analyst at technology research firm Canalys, argues that as the current iPhone connector is already standard, the same will be true for any subsequent versions.

Decision time for Apple

However, Franciso Jeronimo, an analyst at technology research firm IDC, says that Apple must come up with an additional product that meets the needs of users who have already paid out hundreds for iPhone accessories.

“Apple needs to find a solution not to disappoint their current clients who want to upgrade to the new iPhone but are tied to an expensive accessory they have bought. I believe Apple will come up with some sort of adaptor so the new iPhone can be used with previous connectors.”

Apple iPhone 5: is a smaller port the natural choice?

Some have already heralded the end of the 21mm wide, 30-pin connector, arguing that it is becoming obsolete with the advent of new technologies such as the microUSB.

Techies have argued that the smaller connecter is the obvious choice for Apple’s future because it gives the computing giant the scope to create a larger battery as well as designing smaller products.

However, as forecasts from ABI research suggest that the iPhone will make up a large part of the smartphone accessories market (estimated at $20bn for 2012), Apple is unlikely to completely move away from facilitating connectivity between the iPhone 5 and external devices.

The lucrative nature of the smartphone accessories market was also confirmed by CK Lu, a Taipei-based analyst at research firm Gartner

“Many companies are interested in developing accessories for Apple because Apple users are more open and willing to buy accessories,”