( CNN ) -- The tiniest iPhone rumors can cause a big uproar . The latest : The blog TechCrunch on Wednesday published a story claiming the next-generation iPhone will have a new connection port that 's about a third the size of the one on the current model . The reaction on blogs and on Twitter has been largely negative , with commenters saying the new port -- used to charge the phone and connect it to other devices -- would render obsolete existing chargers and accessories such as speaker sets . `` Every other phone manufacturer decided back in 2008 to conform to the MicroUSB standard , and that 's been wonderful , '' one commenter , identified as Scott Ableman , wrote on the TechCrunch story . `` But Apple wants people to feel they have to buy proprietary accessories from them . Do n't get me wrong . I respect them as marketers and profiteers . I just hate their contempt for me as a customer . '' `` Are standards just too easy for Apple to use ? '' asked Calob Horton , a writer for the blog Pocketables , which focuses on mobile technology . `` Does the company feel the need to create its own , proprietary hardware to feel special , more profitable or even more popular ? '' He added : `` I understand the lust Apple has towards thinness and being able to cram more tech into a small package , but it can be achieved without its own port designs that can make the devices incompatible with other companies ' products . '' Apple has n't announced whether or not it 's working on a new iPhone , much less confirmed specifications such as the type of dock that will be included , and the company did not respond immediately to CNN 's request for comment . Most observers expect Apple to introduce its next iPhone this fall since the current 4S model was launched last October and the company has a history of releasing upgraded phones each year . TechCrunch said its report is based on interviews with three independent manufacturers of Apple accessories that said the new iPhone will include a 19-pin dock instead of the current 30-pin model . In 2003 , Apple introduced the 30-pin dock connector on the third-generation iPod . Since then , the port has been a fixture at the bottom of Apple 's mobile devices , including the iPhone and iPad . The connection type is proprietary , meaning cords and accessories that use the 30-pin dock only work with Apple devices . Still , the dock has become `` insanely ubiquitous , '' as Pocketables writes , to the point that it 's almost a standard of its own . It 's unclear if the new dock will be another only-Apple standard . Writing for the site ZDNet , Jason D. O'Grady said the new port `` presumably '' adheres to the Micro USB standard , which is used on most other mobile phones . If that 's the case , he said , the switch could have all kinds of advantages , including saving consumers money ( a 30-pin cord from Apple costs $ 19 ; Micro USB cords start at less than $ 1 ) and making it easier for Apple to comply with a European law that requires Micro USB ports on new mobile phones . ( Apple gets around this by selling an adapter in Europe . ) Either way , if the Apple standard changes , iPhone owners may be left , as @ shmidtb writes on Twitter , with `` a bunch of worthless cords '' on their hands . What do you think ? Would you welcome a new connector format ? Let us know in the comments .
The next-generation iPhone will have a smaller connection port , according to a report . Score: 7 Such a switch could save customers money if Apple switches to a standard port size .