With Worldwide Developer Conference out of the way, the next big thing on Cupertino's calendar is iPhone 5 launch event. There is significant growth in rumors associated with next iPhone in past few days. The new iPhone is believed to be thinner, but to achieve the desired slim design, Apple is reportedly ditching the old 30-pin dock connector for a smaller connector.

Folks at TechCrunch are "independently verifying" that next iPhone will pack a smaller 19-pin connector as compared to the current 30-pin dock technology. The new port is identical in size to Thunderbolt port found in MacBook lineup of Apple laptops. According to the tech site, three independent manufacturing sources have confirmed the inclusion of 19-pin dock connector in iPhone 5.

The size of dock connector in next iPhone is a hot topic of debate for tech geeks, like screen size conflicts, while Apple's change of strategy can alter the world upside down for iPhone-compatible accessory makers. As highlighted by the online publication, iAccessory makers are going through a confusing state, while waiting for any official news on the next standard of dock connector.

If Apple really opt for a smaller dock connector in iPhone 5, none of the expensive stuff that you use to plug-in your iPhone will work on Apple's upcoming flagship model. External speakers, in-car entertainment add-ons, docks, travel chargers and everything else that you purchased for your iPhone will be incompatible with iPhone 5.

Apple iPhone 5 with smaller dock connector will undoubtedly surpass iPhone 4S in sales, if the recent reports are to believed, but accessory ecosystem will have to suffer from the move. iAccessory makers will have to spend some sleepless nights in order to design new add-ons for next iPhone and at the end, 30-pin accessories will eventually start vanishing from the market and new accessories will take their place.