Story by
Nate Swanner
Former Reporter, TNWTNW's former West Coast writer in the PNW (Portland, Oregon). Nate loves amplifying developers, and codes in Swift when he's not writing. If TNW's former West Coast writer in the PNW (Portland, Oregon). Nate loves amplifying developers, and codes in Swift when he's not writing. If you need to get in touch, Twitter is your best bet.
Li-Fi is a concept you may not be familiar with, but there are indications Apple is toying with it for inclusion on future iPhones.
Using pulses of light to transmit information, Li-Fi receivers (like a future iPhone, if Apple has its way) will take in that transmission, then translate it into an electric signal.
Because it uses light to send data, Li-Fi may be found in the connected home via accessories like lightbulbs.
Li-Fi testing is already imminent. May appear in the next iPhone 7 according to iOS code in iOS 9.1 firmware. pic.twitter.com/MPK65QwLvp
— Chase Fromm (@kyoufujibaya) December 31, 2015
Apple’s work with Li-Fi compatibility has been spotted in code for iOS 9.1, which simply notes Li-Fi capabilities. There’s no indication elsewhere that Apple is working with Li-Fi.
But, there’s indication Apple has had Li-Fi in mind for a while. AppleInsider points to a 2013 patent application for a device that sounds an awful lot like a Li-Fi transmitter.
While I’m not expecting Apple to include Li-Fi in the iPhone 7 — mainly because the technology is barely being tested in the real world — it could help push Li-Fi forward by making iPhones compatible.
➤ iOS code shows Apple experimenting with ultra fast, light-based Li-Fi wireless data for future iPhones [AppleInsider]