Next iPhone to reportedly use in-cell touch panels

As far as iPhone rumours go, they virtually circulate throughout the year. The amount of rumours surrounding the next iPhone gathered momentum shortly after the iPhone 4S was launched and this mainly stemmed from the fact that Apple released a near identical device design-wise as compared to the iPhone 4. The last we heard of the upcoming iPhone was that it would feature a liquidmetal finish at the back thus propelling the belief that Apple will design the next iPhone differently, which of course is expected. According to a report by Digitimes, Apple is expected to use a new panel for their displays which would make the handset thinner and lighter. The brand will incorporate panels using the in-cell technology that are being manufactured by Sharp and Toshiba Mobile Displays (TMD).

The report states, “An improvement in yield rates of the in-cell touch panels at Sharp and TMD has persuaded Apple to choose to cooperate with Japan-based panel makers, the sources noted. Sharp will produce the in-cell panels at its 5.5G lines, while TMD will utilize its 6G lines for production, indicated the sources, adding that the two makers will begin to ramp up in-cell panel production in the second quarter of 2012. The adoption of the in-cell touch panels, if realized, will also have a significant impact on the operations of Apple's current touch panel suppliers TPK Holdings and Wintek, which are specialized in the production of glass on glass touch solutions currently.”

A lot of other rumours have been floating around regarding the next iPhone and the main one is regarding the launch date of the product. Rumours suggest that Apple may go back to their June release cycle and launch the iPhone during the WWDC event, the time when Apple usually releases the iPhone. However, to give the present iPhone 4S a shelf life of a year, Apple may in fact release the next iPhone by the third quarter of 2012.

Other rumours about the upcoming iPhone suggest that it will have features like LTE, a smaller dock connector and NFC capabilities. Let us know your thoughts about when Apple will release the next iPhone and do you think that since the rumours are piling up, the launch date will be just around the corner?