Amid various reports about the next-generation iPhone, fresh rumors have it that Apple's major supplier, Foxconn has already started the production of iPhone 5S. According to reports coming from Far East, Apple's next-generation flagship smartphone is reportedly being built on the same lines as the current iPhone 5.

There was a surge of speculations about the next version of iPhone in recent weeks and various tech portals came out with different timeframes for the imminent release of the device. Latest in the series of iPhone-related rumors has emerged from Japanese Apple blog MacOtakara reporting that Foxconn has begun ramping up production of Apple's iPhone 5S. Bringing the news out to the English readers, Apple Insider says iPhone 5's successor is being manufactured along the same assembly lines as its predecessor as both the devices share substantially similar design.

According to MacOtakara, Japan's leading cellular provider NTT DoCoMo is apparently slashing the orders for Android-based smartphones for the upcoming fall 2013 season. Although DoCoMo is not an Apple partner carrier currently, the surprise move gives rise to further speculations that the provider may soon start sales of the iPhone.

Meanwhile, a couple of reports giving contradicting release dates have surface on the web over the last one week leaving the Apple-crazy masses in utter cluelessness about the arrival of the next iPhone.

A reliable prognosticator of Apple moves, iMore's Rene Ritchie says the Cupertino tech giant will release the iPhone 5S sometime in August this year. "iMore has learned that Apple is planning the release of the iPhone 5S for this summer, currently for August," he writes. He further predicted that Apple will bring in an advanced processor and more impressive camera to the next-generation Apple smartphone. "Next generation iPads, presumably the iPad 5 and potentially the iPad mini 2, may also debut as soon as this April," Ritchie predicts.

Ritchie's prediction came a little after Ming-Chi Kuo, a noted analyst of KGI securities, anticipated the release date of iPhone 5S to be in June and claimed that the release of the phone for the public will take place in July. Speaking to Apple Insider, Kuo gave further details about the hardware of the smartphone. "Kuo predicts that the iPhone 5S will leverage a number of next-generation Apple technologies, including a faster A7 SoC, a 'Smart Flash' that uses white or yellow LEDs to ensure high-quality photos, and a fingerprint security chip sourced from the company's acquisition of AuthenTec. The 5S will recycle the same thin aluminum chassis seen on the iPhone 5, but may include a slightly larger 1600mAh battery," the report says.