Jul 13, 2012 02:56 AM EDT

Based on reports from Reuters, sellers in China are offering pre-orders for the new iPhone 5 through sellers such as Taobao. Customers can supposedly preorder Apple's next-gen smartphone for $160 or guarantee a device with an upfront payment of $1,100.
No official confirmation of the iPhone 5's technical specs have been released by Apple, though that is not stopping Chinese sellers from posting up specifications along with images of the new device. Despite the false marketing, sellers are already making profits with preorder sales from enthusiastic Apple fans wanting first dibs on the new iPhone.
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News of fake iPhones being sold were earlier reported when a copycat device called HiPhone 5 was made available. Listed specs for the HiPhone 5 were items such as 3.5 inch HD screen, Ultra Thin Body, Handshaking function, and 1280x1024 Dual camera.
Unsurprisingly, the copycat device lacked higher standard specs rumored on the real iPhone 5 such as 4G LTE Connectivity, 8 megapixel rear camera, integrated iOS 6, enhanced Siri, smaller sized dock connector, liquid metal casing, and NFC technology.
For a long time now, there were reports on Apple integrating the near field communication (NFC) technology. NFC has been a feature in Android based smartphones. Now the rumour is that Apple which had filed for patent in 2008 and it has been finally granted. The patent was given for Apple's app, iTravel which makes use of NFC. iTravel is described as "a method and system for transportation check-in (e.g., ticketing and identification) via near field communication (NFC) using a handheld electronic device, such as a cellular phone or a personal media player" Apple users can use iTravel app as bus or train ticket.
iTravel app looks like an improved version of Passbook app and might as well work on Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. As a standalone app, iTravel will mean nothing. They may also be preventing others from claiming the patents but as expectations for iPhone 5 rises, we are bound to think iTravel might be a feature in iPhone 5.
Food giants like Starbucks and McDonald's already make use of mobile payments, NFC being a contact-less technology. Though mobile payments have high potential, it has not been standardized. A report by Wall Street Journal suggests, Apple has been comfortable being at number two in mobile payments, letting their competitors do the market research for them.
If the NFC chip is integrated into Apple iPhone, and becomes a hit with the users, it will open up new avenues setting a new trend in cellular industry. Though Android based phones have NFC technology it has not yet made its mark.
Apple has always maintained silence over what its new iPhone will be like. We can only wait and watch.
Below is a complete listing of HiPhone 5 specs featured on Mycharminggirl.com
Hiphone 5 Main Features:
1. Quad Band: GSM850/900/1800/1900MHZ
2. Dual sim cards dual standby
3. Wireless internet
4. Support Java
5. Handshaking function
6. Four Pages of menu
7. Ultrathin Body
8. Dual cameras with flash light
9. Support TF card extend to 8GB max
10. FM/MP3/MP4/Bluetooth function supported
Hiphone 5 Specification:
Color and Language:
What's in the Box :
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