iOS 7 leak appears to confirm biometric fingerprint security in next iPhone

30 Jul 2013

Apple fans have been sent into a tizzy thanks to an iOS 7 beta leak that seems to confirm that the next iPhone will indeed have the rumoured biometric fingerprint capabilities to unlock the device.

9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman reported that a developer called Hamza Sood has discovered a folder called “BiometricKitUI” in the code for iOS 7 beta that suggests users will be able to unlock their device by having their fingerprint scanned while holding the Home button on their iPhone.

It is still unclear whether the technology will have further uses, such as confirming electronic payments via NFC.

In recent days photos also emerged of packaging for a device called the ‘iPhone 5C’, which many believe will be the rumoured low-cost iPhone using plastic rather than metal enclosures.

iOS7 beta leak

Image via 9to5Mac

Top image (biometric fingerprint) via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com