iPhone 6 Set For Mid-2013 Release

Apple is most assuredly already working on their next iPhone, but will it really be read for the middle of next year? DigiTimes, a source one should be careful with, says yes. The trade publication reported Monday:

    Apple is expected to introduce its next-generation iPad and iPhone series around the middle of 2013, which will boost demand for ICs in particular communications related chips during the latter half of the first quarter, according to the observers.

    Component orders placed by Apple, which climbed to high levels prior to the iPhone 5 rollout, will rise again between March and April, the observers indicated.

The story also contains news of the chipmakers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and packager Advanced Semiconductor Engineering. It seems both have entered Apple’s supply chain. “TSMC has not directly grabbed orders from Apple, but has secured contract-manufacturing orders for many ICs used in the iOS devices.”

If nothing else, DigiTimes is usually accurate on supply chain matters. They also reported last week that Apple plans to begin trial production of the iPhone 5S in December. It could be that this is what was meant by the rumors of the next iPhone rather than the iPhone 6. Things are too hazy and too unconfirmed to tell.