The next-generation iPhone may not launch until October, a full month after most industry insiders expected the handset to hit stores.
Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, All Things Digital's John Paczkowski dispelled mounting rumors that the iPhone 5 would make its debut in September.
The report comes just two days after an AT&T (News 
- Alert) employee told Gizmodo that vacation requests for the last two weeks of September would be denied due to a “media blackout,” which in the past has always coincided with an iPhone (News - Alert) release.
“I don't know why AT&T's calling for all hands on deck those weeks, but it's not for an iPhone launch,” the source told All Things Digital (News - Alert).
Instead, the much-anticipated iPhone 5 will launch in October, and most likely toward the end of the month, sources told the website.
The All Things Digital article contradicts a number of earlier media reports that also tabbed a September release, including a recent China Times story that claimed Apple (News - Alert) would bring the handset to market the week after Labor Day.
The expected launch date is not the only unknown surrounding the iPhone 5. Unlike other years, there hasn't been all that much reported on the upcoming handset's new features. In fact, the only rumors that hold any weight involve a faster processor and a higher resolution rear-facing camera.
The other question still to be answered is if the iPhone 5 will launch alongside a second handset. Deutsche Bank vice president told clients late last month that he believes Apple will introduce an unlocked, moderately-priced prepaid handset at the same time as the contract-only iPhone 5.
He speculated that by offering a prepaid voice plan, Apple will “drive significantly greater penetration” into markets that don't prefer carrier-subsidized iPhones. He expects the handset, possibly to be known as the iPhone 4S, to cost around $349.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.
Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
