iphone5 chip project keeps secret, copycat manufacturers prepare for "accessories war"

iPhone5 uses a new generation of data interface, this interface called "Lightning" uses a new 8-pin design, which means that the 30-pin interface used before has become history. Faced with a new generation of interfaces, accessory manufacturers are also eager to try, ready to start a new round of "accessories war", but the hidden "authenticated chip" in the new interface has made some manufacturers "uneasy."

Chip project keeps secret

One of the earliest domestic accessory manufacturers that obtained Apple authorization revealed that the new dedicated interface built into the iPhone 5 is a certainty. Only by adding such a chip to the data line can normal charging and data transmission be performed. In addition to becoming an Apple authorized manufacturer, cottage accessory manufacturers are not qualified to purchase such chips from Apple.

"We have been warned by Apple about this chip and cannot tell you the specifics." The person in charge of this accessory manufacturer said that they were "blocked" by Apple. After they disclosed the news of the "special chip" to the outside world, Apple threatened to cancel their authorization, not only did not allow them to disclose the situation of any new interface to the outside world, but also required them to withdraw the information that has been made public.

The so-called Apple authorized manufacturers refer to those manufacturers that have passed the Apple MFI certification and can print authorized labels on their product packaging. The most prominent logo of MFI is the logo such as Made for iPhone and black on white background.

The earliest batch of persons in charge of Hehong Industry Company who obtained Apple MFI certification and authorization explained to reporters that Apple ’s interface has patented technology. Only after obtaining Apple ’s authorization license can it be obtained from Apple ’s designated third-party accessory manufacturers. Purchase original devices.

It is not easy to join Apple's MFI certification. Apple's assessment of the qualifications and scale of parts manufacturers is quite strict. "Our production authorization for iPhone5 accessories is being re-evaluated," the person in charge of Hehong Industry said that although the production authorization for iPod, iPhone, iPad accessories has been obtained from Apple before, the production of iPhone5 accessories still has to pass the re-evaluation of Apple And approval.

Copycat manufacturers want to crack chip secrets

"It's been almost two months, and the crack hasn't come out yet." Faced with the "chip difficulty" in the new interface of iPhone5, the person in charge of a data line manufacturer in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen, was a little helpless. He told the "IT Times" reporter that they got the iPhone 5 data line through "internal channels" in August and handed it to a chip R & D company to crack, but so far there has been no progress. "The mold has been opened, and everyone is waiting for the chip to be cracked." He said the key difficulty is that if this chip is not added to the data line, it may not be able to be used normally after production. An accessory manufacturer authorized by Apple also explained to the "IT Times" reporter that the data cable without Apple's special chip can be charged, but data transmission cannot be performed.

Dr. Zhu Qiang is the engineering director of a well-known international data transmission manufacturer. He believes that this kind of "reverse engineering" is difficult to achieve. "In the past, just copying out the layout can be mass-produced, but now the technology is getting higher and higher, and the interface is getting smaller and smaller. Chips like this are now nanotechnology, if there is no very advanced professional tool, it will be very cracked difficult."

Faced with the hidden chip of the new iPhone5 interface, many people in the industry believe that cottage manufacturers will be blocked by Apple from the accessories market, but some people think that cracking the iPhone5 interface chip is only a matter of time.

Apple's "Eye" accessories are lucrative

An industry analyst analyzed that Apple's adoption of this "certified chip" measure was dissatisfied with the huge profits of the accessories market being occupied by a large number of cottage accessories, and wanted to exclude cottage manufacturers through technological channels. "Legal supervision is too difficult. On the one hand, the cost of prosecution is too high. On the other hand, even if the case is won, these small manufacturers have changed their names and started production again." The person said that for a large number of Chinese cottage accessories manufacturers, Apple wants Supervision through legal channels is very difficult.

"Although the iPhone 5's data connection chip cracking progress may be prolonged due to technical difficulties, it is not a problem for cottage accessory manufacturers. After all, they have an absolute advantage in terms of price." The above-mentioned people believe that Apple's move to China's cottage As far as the accessory manufacturers are concerned, it is far from reaching the point of being hurt. According to a reporter's investigation, an iPhone4S data cable with Apple certification costs 128 yuan, while the factory price of the cottage manufacturers is only about 1.8 yuan.

In addition to the price advantage, the data cable is only a small part of the huge demand for the entire iPhone accessory market. According to the person in charge of Hehong Industry, the share of data cables in the entire Apple accessories market is not large, and the most shipments of accessories are protective shells and films. The addition of a "certified chip" to the iPhone5 interface seems to be Apple's desire to create its own "closed empire" among downstream accessory manufacturers, but for now, this move may not be fully effective for cottage accessory manufacturers in the short term.