Apple to hold mini-conference to focus on the Lightning connector

Apple plans to hold a conference in Shenzen, China for its “Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad” (MFI) program partners on Nov. 7-8, reports “TechCrunch” (www.techcrunch.com), quoting an unnamed “source close to Apple’s accessory manufacturing partner.” The event will reportedly focus on guidelines for the new Lightning connector that debuted with the iPhone 5.

The article says the conferenced will be similar to the one held Dec. 7-9, 2011, when Apple expanded the MFI program to promote adoption of new AirPlay and Bluetooth standards. What’s more, Apple will strictly regulate sales of Lightning connectors for MFI partners, and that the cost per part for those components, “while not unreasonable, is fairly high compared to other widely-available standards like USB,” says “TechCrunch.”