A grinning Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds the iPhone 4, at WWDC 2010. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Apple might be planning to adopt curved glass on the next iPhone, according to a report.

Taiwanese publication DigiTimes claims that Apple has purchased about 300 glass-cutting machines in preparation for producing curved cover glass for the iPhone 5.

It’s unclear what role curved glass would play on an iPhone, though it’s worth noting that the previous-generation iPod Nano used curved glass for its display. Also, MacRumors chief Arnold Kim points out that Samsung’s Nexus S uses a convex curved screen, to improve comfort and perceived usability.

In addition to today’s report about a curved display, publications have claimed the following about the iPhone 5:

• The handset will debut in September, perhaps during Apple’s annual iPod event.
• The iPhone 5 will have a flat metal back, instead of the glass on the current iPhone.
• There’s been some debate about near-field communications technology debuting in the next iPhone, to enable wireless payments with the device at stores. However, we’re skeptical because it would first require merchants to be on board with NFC readers.
• Likely “under-the-hood” changes include the faster A5 processor currently powering the iPad 2, as well as an 8-megapixel camera sensor designed by Sony.
• The iPhone 5 will become available on T-Mobile and Sprint, according to some analysts.

Apple does not comment on rumors or speculation.

Multiple publications claim the iPhone 5 will not be announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, where the company has traditionally introduced new iPhones.

Though it sounds like WWDC will lack an iPhone-hardware announcement, the big news at the event may revolve around an online storage solution that will provide wireless streaming of iTunes music as well as an online storage locker, similar to Dropbox. Multiple publications have reported that this service will be called iCloud.

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