Most of the world seems to have been convinced that Apple will use a smaller dock connector on its next-generation iPhone, and most rumors on the issue point to a 19-pin jack. However, a report by iLounge claims that the actual connector will have far fewer pins than originally expected.

Photo credit: Martin Hajek

Citing two sources, iLounge said that the iPhone 5 will have an 8-pin dock connector that could allow users to plug in the cable in two directions, similar to the MacBooks’ MagSafe power jacks.

The current 30-pin connector has been in play for over half a decade now, and while Apple is expected to offer an adapter to facilitate the change, there should still be plenty of adjustment in the third-party accessory industry.

iLounge’s report also pointed to an additional iOS 6 feature, which would boost local wireless connectivity among Apple’s devices. Using Bluetooth 4.0, this feature could allow users to utilize app functions across devices like displaying iPhone messages on an iPod or making iPhone calls from an iPad or newer Macs.

Apple has added Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility to its hardware last year, and the recent updates of all its mobile devices now have the latest revision of the local wireless networking protocol.

Going by the most recent rumors, the next-generation iPhone is due to be announced on September 12, alongside a new iPod Nano and a 7-inch iPad Mini. This is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most-awaited product launches, driven by pent-up demand for the new iPhone.