Apple To Unveil iPhone 5 On 4 October, Rumour

Apple is reportedly set to unveil the iPhone 5 to the world’s media, at a corporate event scheduled for 4 October. This is according to a AllThingsD report, which cited sources “close to the situation”.

“While Apple could certainly change its plans anytime, sources said that the Oct. 4 date has been selected by the company to showcase the iPhone 5,” said the report. “Sources added that the plan is now to make the new device available for purchase within a few weeks after the announcement.”

Turtleneck Optional

The 4 October event is also reported to be when Apple’s newly installed CEO Tim Cook will make his first big product introduction to a global audience, who will likely use the event to judge the new man in charge, after the shock retirement of Steve Jobs last month due to ill health.

It remains to be seen whether Cook opts to wear a blue jeans, black turtleneck clothing combo.

The iPhone 5 rumour mill has been busy of late, churning out reports of when the next generation smartphone will arrive. Previous rumours had pointed to a September or October unveiling for the device.

Meanwhile another rumour is suggesting that later in the month, 21 October to be exact, Apple will take the wraps off the low-cost iPhone 4S, which is designed to counter the threat posed to Apple by low-cost Android-based devices.

But it seems as though one mobile operator will not be getting its hands on the iPhone 5 this year. According to a leaked internal document purportedly from T-Mobile USA’s chief marketing officer, the iPhone 5 won’t be offered on T-Mobile this year.

“We are not going to get the iPhone 5 this year,” CMO Cole Brodman is quoted as saying in a transcript that was reported on the blog TmoNews.

Earlier this month a report on the Apple-centric 9to5Mac said that the iPhone 5 is experiencing “design and production delays,” and could be “delayed slightly at the very least and may see shortages all the way into 2012.”

Price Impact?

Meanwhile other rumours have suggested that all the reports of the forthcoming arival of the iPhone 5, is impacting the current pricing of iPhone 4 handsets.

It used to be the case that operators would offer the iPhone 4 on deals with a monthly rental of £35. But reports have suggested that some UK operators have dropped this to around the £30 per month mark.

However both Vodafone and Orange (Everything Everywhere) denied reports of a price cut, after eWEEK Europe UK contacted the operators.