Apple Inc. is expected to introduce its next generation iPhone in August, a couple of months ahead of schedule, Focus Taiwan said on Wednesday, citing unnamed local media.

Apple is expected to place orders with component makers in July in preparation for its planned launch of the iPhone 5 in August, which is aimed at cashing in on back-to-school buying at the end of the summer vacation, the report said.

Component suppliers such as Largan Precision Co. Ltd. and Genius Electronic Optical Co. Ltd. will benefit from the strong demand from Apple, and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. is likely to serve as the sole assembler of iPhone 5, the report said.

Recent reports indicated that the new iPhone will feature thinner design, NFC technology and a bigger 4" screen.

Terry Gou, CEO of Hon Hai (parent company of Foxconn), recently said that consumers should hold out for the iPhone 5, as it will apparently put the Samsung Galaxy S III to shame.

However, Gou failed to specify how exactly the next iPhone will do that.