Apple could be launching iOS 8.1 towards the end of the month.
Citing multiple unnamed sources, Bank Innovation notes that Apple will be releasing iOS 8.1 to the public on October 20.
The Cupertino company is expected to debut its Apple Pay service in iOS 8.1.
Although compatible with all Apple devices that can run iOS 8, only the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be able to tap the full potential of Apple Pay and make point-of-sale transactions via their in-built NFC tech.
The developer beta that Apple rolled out on September 29 already has a hidden setting that allows users to manage their credit and debit cards along with other payment details, according to MacRumors.
No other details of iOS 8.1 have surfaced yet, but it is likely to be the first of three major iOS 8 updates.
9to5Mac reports that Apple is currently working on not only iOS 8.1, but also iOS 8.2 and iOS 8.3.
Previously, Apple releases one or two major updates, and follows up with small bug fixes.
For example, iOS 7 was given an update to iOS 7.1, and was patched for bugs twice in its final iteration, iOS 7.1.2.
9to5Mac speculates that Apple is changing tact when it comes to upgrades in order to cater to the new iPads and iPhone that will be launched in 2015.
For instance, the rumored large screen, 12.9-inch iPad is expected to offer a split-screen multi-tasking feature that doesn’t yet exist on iOS 8, and is likely to launch in 2015, which is a couple of months away from Apple’s upcoming iPad and iOS 8.1 launch in October.
If Apple does indeed have a split-screen multi-tasking feature up its sleeve, it means that 9to5Mac’s claim of multiple iOS 8 builds could be accurate.