iPhone to get haptic touch

Insider sources say Apple in talks with Immersion

28 April 2008 8:25 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

It seems Apple is currently in talks with Immersion to licence haptic technology for its next-gen iPhone, if recent internet reports are to be believed.

Palluxo.com reports: "A source (Apple Inc employee), who chose to remain anonymous, told us that senior executives of the two companies have already met once on Tuesday and the next meeting has been scheduled for Friday morning. The source confirmed that the executives will continue discussions over licencing and implementation issues of iPhone haptics".

The haptic technology would mean that when users pressed one of the iPhone's touchscreen icons, or for example a letter in keypad mode, they would get a tiny, vibrating response as feedback that makes the experience feel more "real".

Immersion's haptic technology for phones is called VibeTonz and is already used in some mobiles. Nokia currently licences the technology and is said to be planning to use it in their touchscreen "Tube" iPhone competitor.