Apple iPhone 6 Rumors Suggest New Connectivity Features

The upcoming iPhone 6 from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) is expected to introduce a host of new features, and it looks like they might include near-field communication connectivity and the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi protocol. While the features have not yet been confirmed, a recent leak claims to show their internal components for the iPhone 6.

French tech website Nowehereelse shared images of the purported iPhone 6 circuit board components on Saturday. The website compares the circuit boards to those of an iPhone 5s, noting the similarities and differences that "prove" the proposed new features for the iPhone 6.

Though new features are a given for the iPhone 6, pundits are skeptical about whether the device will actually include near-field communication. NFC allows devices to connect with each other through radio communication and is commonly used to enable various banking and quick-pay applications on smartphones. This feature has been rumored for several iPhone generations but has yet to be introduced.

However, recent reports suggest that Apple may be developing its own iWallet feature, which would be compatible with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Apple’s iWallet would likely compete with Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Wallet, which uses NFC. Apple supposedly has avoided developing with NFC because it's still considered to be in its infancy even though the technology has been around for many years and has been included on many smartphones. Google, for example, still struggles to get consumers interested in Google Wallet.

The latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi protocol is more likely to be a feature on the iPhone 6. The new Wi-Fi protocol is reportedly faster than the current 802.11b/g/n standard. Apple has already adopted 802.11ac Wi-Fi onto its latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac models, making it even more plausible that the iPhone 6 will have the same Wi-Fi capabilities.

Apple is expected to give the iPhone 6 a 4.7-inch display, making it considerably larger than previous iPhone models. The device will likely be announced at an Apple keynote event during the second or third week of September and may release soon after that. Currently, the smartphone is expected to go on sale on or around Sept. 19. There are also rumors about a 5.5-inch iPhone, which is expected to be announced and released in December or early 2015.