In a move that is raising frenzied protests from competitors, Apple, Inc. has announced a plan that will essentially obsolete the universal 3.5 mm analog audio jack.

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Apple wants to replace the 3.5 mm headphone jack with a slimmer jack, its very own product it calls a "Lightning Connector."

Apple intends the Lightning Connector to be the new standard for connecting all kinds of headphones to all kinds of smartphones and tablets. The flat and not round Lightning Connector looks very much like the familiar USB jack.

Apple contends that the existing analog headphone jack takes up significant internal volume in a smartphone and a tablet because of its roundness. Apple said it wants to bring more functionality and performance to headphones, especially those made by headphone maker Beats Electronics recently acquired by Apple.

It said the Lightning Connector can be used both to power and connect devices. This means that headphones could be lighter since they will draw power from an iPhone instead of an internal battery.

The same port will also allow analogue and digital playback and allow an iPhone or iPad to communicate with the headphones through an app.

Apple's slim headphone jack will also free up space for other internal components such as a bigger battery on future iPhones.

Analysts said Apple is having trouble making batteries thin enough for its next-generation iPhone. The cubic millimeters that will be saved by removing the headphone jack could be used to house other components to make way for the battery.