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Taiwan Semiconductor eyes Q2 for next-gen iPhone TouchID production

The company produces the TouchID fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 5S and has reportedly secured the contract for Apple's next handset.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger
Scott Stein/CNET

Apple's TouchID fingerprint sensor will be in the next iPhone, according to a new report.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), the production house that manufactures the fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 5S, will start in the second quarter producing TouchIDs for the company's next iPhone, Patently Apple reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with its plans.

This time around, TSMC has a different plan for producing the TouchID. In the iPhone 5S, the company relies on backend production of components to other firms. With the next iPhone, however, TSMC will handle the backend technology -- wafer level-chip scale packaging, according to Patently Apple. The hope is that bringing in house all elements of the TouchID will improve yield and get the component to devices more quickly.

As one might expect, Apple has provided no information on plans for its next iPhone; though, the company is expected to announce a new handset sometime this year.