TechCrunch reports that Apple is planning to hold a conference in Shenzen, China for its Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad (MFI) program partners on November 7 and November 8.
According to the report, Apple will promote the adoption of AirPlay, Bluetooth standards and more importantly to cover guidelines for the new Lightning connector.
TechCrunch reports:
We’re also hearing that Apple will strictly regulate sales of Lightning connectors for MFI partners, and that the cost per part for those components, while not unreasonable, is fairly high compared to other widely-available standards like USB.
iLounge reported earlier in October that the confab in Shenzen for MFI partners was planned for November, and that it would detail new rules. One of those new rules, according to one of our sources close to the program, is that Apple’s Lightning pin supply is controlled by the company itself, and it supplies approved MFI partners with production quantities of the pin once their product is determined to have met its standards and specifications. It sells them in volume, and our source says the pricing is actually very fair when you consider the advanced technology involved in the connector’s construction.
The teardown of the Lightning connector has revealed that it includes a security chip, but that hasn’t third-party manufacturers to launch iPhone 5 docks, which work with the Lightning connector cable. In fact, the accessory manufacturer who had launched the iPhone 5 dock has claimed that they’ve also obtained cracked chips that bypass Apple’s authentication functions.
Apple’s iPhone 5, 5th generation iPod touch and 7th generation iPod nano that were unveiled in September came with a new dock connector dubbed Lightning, which replaced the 30-pin dock connector that was first launched in 2003.
Despite Apple’s announcement at the iPhone 5 event that the Lightning connector will be supported by a number of third-party accessory makers, including Bose, JBL and B&W, we’re yet to see anyone launch a Lightning compatible accessory.
It remains to be seen if the November conference will give accessory manufacturers to launch Lightning compatible products before the holiday season.
