4G LTE Support Is Included in Apple iPhone 5?

With Apple holding a special event this week, where the company is likely to unveil the sixth-generation iPhone, the rumor mill is in overdrive regarding this highly-speculated smartphone, with the most recent report pegging the handset with 4G LTE connectivity.

While this is not the first whispering that the iPhone 5 will run on the high-speed network, with Verizon stating earlier this year that all future smartphones will offer 4G LTE support, this most-recent report comes from a source familiar with the matter at the Wall Street Journal.

According to the article, the next iPhone will support 4G LTE networks worldwide, though it won't be available on every carrier. The Apple smartphone will work on the fastest wireless networks around the world, including in the U.S., Europe and Asia, however it isn't likely to operate with all carriers' LTE networks. It isn't clear at this time which countries will be left out.

There have been numerous rumors that the iPhone 5 would have this very speedy form of cellular-wireless networking, and with a large number of Apple's competitors offering LTE-enabled handsets, the company may be looking to gain a customer base by adopting the high-speed connectivity in its devices. The Cupertino-based company already took a plunge into the 4G pool earlier this year, with the release of the third-generation iPad, which supported AT&T and Verizon's networks. Yet, the coverage didn't work internationally, resulting in complaints from numerous countries, including Australia and across Europe.

More about the iPhone 5

Said to sport a larger screen and a smaller Dock Connector, the sixth-generation iPhone is speculated to pack a 1440 mAh battery, which is just slightly larger than the 1430 mAh one in the current iPhone 4S. If reports of 4G LTE hold true, Apple may need to bump up the battery capacity to provide enough power for these new features.

Then again, this is all a guessing game until Apple reveals the device, but as Sept. 12 nears, it's only a matter of days until the mystery curtain is drawn on the iPhone 5.