One of the long-rumored features of the next-generation iPhone is a revised, smaller dock connector. This has been discussed in the rumor mill since before the launch of the last iPhone, and the buzz only continues on today. Case in point: according to recent report by TechCrunch, several manufacturers claim that Apple will adopt a new 19-pin replacement for its now ubiquitous 30-pin dock connector.

But although such a change would present difficulties for the legion of companies that make accessories for iPhones, iPads, and iPods, we think now might actually be a good time for Apple to make that switch.

How did we get here?

The 30-pin dock connector first appeared on the third-generation iPod in 2003. The dock connector replaced the FireWire port used on the first two iPods, and allowed Apple to offer both USB and FireWire options, opening the iPod to Windows users. The connector also became a standard that manufacturers could use to make accessories compatible with Apple's growing iPod ecosystem.

That same 30-pin dock connector is still used on the iPhone, iPad, iPod classic, and iPod touch. It's practically synonymous with Apple's mobile devices. Apple itself has adapted the connector to offer video out, analog and digital audio out, SD card adapters, and more for its various devices. But third-party manufacturers have also built adapters, speaker docks, alarm clocks, glucose meters, MIDI interfaces, car stereo adapters, extended life batteries, and other accessories that use the connector.

The rumored replacement for this standard is a 19-pin port that appears significantly smaller (perhaps one-third the size) of the existing 30-pin port. That would generally allow Apple to make thinner devices while still maximizing internal space for the logic board and ever-important battery. It gives Apple the opportunity to get rid of legacy cruft—pins for FireWire or analog video, for instance.

Growing pains

But if Apple adopts a new standard for its next generation iPhone, all those third-party accessory makers could likely find themselves in a bind, rushing new compatible products to market while still serving the hundreds of millions of existing devices using the existing 30-ping dock connector. Consumers already invested in the i-device ecosystem would likewise face some hurdles. They would likely have to replace cables and accessories with new ones, or perhaps in some cases, use an adapter. And it could be some time before existing vendors are able to design, test, manufacture, and sell newer accessories compatible with a 19-pin port.

Apple's new MagSafe 2 port is, we think, one indicator that Apple might be at a point where it feels comfortable making the switch to a new standard for its mobile devices. The latest MacBook Air and the new 15" Retina MacBook Pro both use the newer MagSafe 2 connector. Meanwhile, the non-retina (but still current) 13" and 15" MacBook Pro use the original MagSafe. That means Apple is still making and selling multiple 45W and 85W power adapters, as well as adapters for airplane use. Additionally, Apple offers a $10 adapter to use older chargers with newer computers.

No doubt some users will find the change a hassle, but it will allow Apple to continue to make thinner devices in the future. It's a trade-off between some inconvenience now for increased convenience later, and it's certainly not the first time Apple has made such a switch. Consider the original iMac, which dropped ADB, serial, and SCSI connectors for USB in 1998. At that time, few USB alternatives existed, though a whole slew of iMac-colored, USB-compatible printers, mice, keyboards, Zip drives, and even CD burners quickly came to market within several months of the iMac's launch.

More recently, Apple dropped its own technology in favor of a newer, better standard for the Retina MacBook Pro. The company traded FireWire, a technology it originally designed and championed over a decade ago, in favor of the smaller, faster Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is still in its technological infancy, with only a handful of compatible devices currently shipping—largely of Apple's own design. But Apple made the switch anyway, likely assuming that the payoff down the line will be worth the short-term hassle for a certain percentage of users now.

Apple currently stands as one of the largest companies in world by market cap, has a growing market share in computers and mobile phones, and practically owns (at least for now) the mobile tablet market. The popularity of its mobile devices in particular gives accessory makers an incentive to build new, compatible products for a next-generation iPhone—and future iPads and iPods that would invariably adopt a new connector standard. At Apple's current zenith, it makes more sense to switch now instead of waiting for the 30-pin connector to cement itself further in the market.