Apple is reminding its licensed senior distributors to organize for brand spanking new merchandise with 10 and 12 digital serial numbers. The corporate will maintain a brand new product launch convention on the 21st of this month. Apple plans to modify to random serial numbers for future merchandise beginning in early 2021. The corporate now appears to be getting ready for this plan.

In a memo obtained by MacRumors, Apple informed licensed sellers and distributors to make sure that their “techniques, warehouses, and processes are in place and in a position to obtain and ship the 2 serial quantity codecs.”

Presently, Apple makes use of a 12-digit serial quantity format for its merchandise. This quantity format accommodates related info such because the launch date and time. Nonetheless, at first look, it seems as if the alphanumeric quantity system doesn’t include any related info. With the brand new random serial quantity format, related info can be harder to decipher. Apple says that this format will initially begin with 10 bits.

New serial quantity will now not have related info

The report that Apple will change serial quantity sample first appeared in March this 12 months. On the time, the report claims that Apple will impact this modification in early 2021. We’re nonetheless within the first half of the 12 months thus we will take into account it as “early 2021”

In an inner AppleCare e-mail this week, obtained by MacRumors, Apple stated the brand new serial quantity format will include a randomized alphanumeric string of 8-14 characters that may now not embrace manufacturing info or a configuration code. Apple stated the serial quantity format transition is scheduled for “early 2021,” and confirmed that IMEI numbers is not going to be affected by this modification.

Apple’s present serial quantity format has lengthy allowed each clients and repair suppliers to find out the date and site {that a} product was manufactured, with the primary three characters representing the manufacturing location and the next two indicating the 12 months and week of manufacture. The final 4 characters at the moment function a “configuration code,” revealing a tool’s mannequin, coloration, and storage capability.

From the seems to be of issues, Apple needs to make it harder for folks to get related info from its serial quantity. Apple might be alerting its provide chain for the gadgets that may launch at its April 20th occasion. The corporate will almost certainly launch an improve model of the iPad Professional. We additionally anticipate to see the AirTags at this occasion.