Sharp has announced that it will start shipping displays for the next-generation iPhone this month, in a rare public statement about the Japanese firm’s role as a supplier for Apple.

Photo credit: Martin Hajek

Speaking in a press briefing, newly-installed Sharp president Takashi Okuda said, that the company will start sending out the components this month, but didn’t give out any additional details on the new iPhone’s screen.

Previous rumors suggest that the upcoming iPhone 5 will have an in-cell touch screen, which integrates touch sensors into the LCD panel’s color features. Traditional touch screens use an additional panel for the touch sensors, so this new technology should be thinner, allowing manufacturers to design thinner devices or to cram in additional components within the same chassis.

Foxconn, Apple’s main manufacturing partner, earlier this year snapped up 10% of Sharp’s shares for $808 million, leading to expectations that the Japanese firm will become a major supplier for the Cupertino-based company’s future products.

It’s been reported that this partnership is intended to improve Foxconn’s position as the maker of a long-rumored HDTV from Apple.

Based on the current rumors, the next-generation iPhone should be unveiled at a press event on September 12, alongside the new iPod Nano and the 7-inch iPad Mini. A spate of leaks suggest that the iPhone 5 should have a larger 4-inch screen and a taller form factor than the current iPhone 4S.

A redesigned back, smaller dock connector and relocated headphone jack have also been spotted in the leaked components, while 4G LTE connectivity and NFC capabilities are expected to be on offer to compete with the current flagship smartphones based on the Android platform.