Apple's iPhone trade-in program has officially launched.

On Friday, Apple officially launched the iPhone Reuse and Recycle Program, giving iPhone owners the option to trade in their old handsets for a discount of up to $280 on the upcoming iPhone 5S or other new iPhone models. The announcement first came in the form of a tweet from CNBC, which confirmed with Apple that trade-in program will roll out in nationwide on Friday and will require customers to leave the Apple Store with a new contract in order to take advantage of the offer. Any model of the iPhone can be traded in for store credit, but it is worth keeping in mind that the potential savings will likely be only a fraction of what other third-party companies can offer. Apple has partnered with Brightstar for the trade-in program in the U.S., and the initiative is expected to expand next month.

Source: BGR

iPhone 5s production rumored to have already begun.

iPhone 5S production has already kicked off, a Japanese-language Apple blog reported today.
Foxconn has begun "partial production" of the iPhone 5S, a "reliable source" has told Macotakara. Both MacRumors and AppleInsider cited the report earlier today.

The 5S is being built on the same production line as the iPhone 5, according to Macotakara.
The Japanese blog goes on to claim that NTT Docomo is cutting back on orders for Android devices to make way for introduction of the iPhone. NTT Docomo does not currently carry the iPhone

Rumors have been swirling in the last 24 hours as to when the iPhone 5S will become available. One analyst claims August, while another anticipates a June-July scenario. Whichever it is, it would make sense for limited production to begin in March.

The 5S may use a new A7 Apple chip, a better camera based on a LED technology referred to as Smart Flash, a fingerprint chip, and versions will support China's time-division duplexing (TDD) standard, according to recent speculation.

Source: CNET