Smiley emoji, sad emoji, hearts emoji, and now, for the first time, Asian emoji.
Lovers of emojis, the cute graphics that punctuate online writing and texts, will soon be able to pick from different skin tones as Apple prepares to release non-white faces on its devices.
Apple Inc has incorporated faces with six different skin tones into the developer version of the latest update to its mobile operating system, iOS 8.3. The iPhone and iPad maker has not said when the update will be available for all users, but it is expected later this year.
Currently almost all the emojis depicting people or body parts, such as a fist or bicep, look white on Apple devices and other platforms. More cartoon-like faces that are smiling, crying, winking or suggestive of other emotions come in a shade of yellow reminiscent of ''The Simpsons'' characters.
An Apple spokeswoman said Tuesday that the company is working with the Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit organisation that sets the standards for the pictograms, ''to update the standard so that it better represents diversity for all of us.''
"Apple supports and cares deeply about diversity, and is working with The Unicode Consortium to update the standard so that it better represents diversity for all of us," an Apple spokesperson was quoted by AFP.
The task is not simple. The keyboard of illustrated icons is based on Unicode, the standard for text, numbers and emojis across all platforms. Emoji originated in Japan and were added to the Unicode Standard in 2010, AFP said, and Apple first included them in iOS in 2011.
Unicode last fall proposed adding five new skin colour options for emojis. The Associated Press reported that a Unicode technical report says users worldwide want emojis that better reflect global diversity.
Apple is adding more than 300 additional emoji, including new icons of gay families and 32 new country flags.
Devices made by Cupertino, California-based Apple as well as those running Google Inc's Android operating system dominate the smartphone and tablet market.
Google spokeswoman Liz Markman said the Mountain View, California, company said it had no news to share Tuesday regarding diverse emojis.
