A report today says that Apple will meet next month with accessory makers in Shenzen, China to discuss integration of their new Lightning connector into third-party products.
The MFi Program allows manufacturers to obtain the hardware components necessary to connect iPhones, iPods and iPads to third party docks, cars, and other such devices.
Unlike the previous 30-pin dock connector, TechCrunch says Apple will be keeping very tight control of the new Lightning connector, saying one of the rules of the program will be that Apple’s Lightning pin supply will be controlled by the company itself, and will supply approved partners with production quantities of the pin only after their product is determined to have met its standards and specifications.
Apple will sell them in volume, at what is reported by sources as a fair price, considering the advanced technology present in the connector.
We reported yesterday on a teardown of the Lightning connector that showed the specialized hardware in the connector.
Apple announced during the iPhone 5 launch that some companies, among them Bose, JBL, and others were already working on Lightning compatible devices, but as of yet, no concrete release dates have been announced.
