Apple to release new iPhone 'in September'

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference passed last week without a new iPhone being launched so it’s time for the rumour mill to get started.

Just a week after WWDC, rumours are gathering for Apple's next announcement. Photo: AP

 

 Apple has typically used its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco to unveil the new iPhone. The iPhone 3G, the 3GS and the iPhone 4 were all announced at WWDC but this year Apple chose to focus on software.

The latest rumours suggest that the next iPhone will be launched in September. According to 9to5Mac, the new iPhone has reached the final testing phase. Their source says “the current plan is for a September launch”.

The source doesn’t specify whether the device released in September will be a completely new handset - the iPhone 5 - or a slightly souped-up version of the iPhone 4, to be named iPhone 4S or something similar.

For the last few years, Apple has announced upgrades to its iPod range in September, in time for the holiday season. If the new iPhone is announced in September, its arrival would coincide with the launch of the new version of iOS 5, the operating system that runs iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, which was announced at WWDC.

Apple seldom details its plans in advance, which is why the pre-announcement of the contents of the WWDC keynote were such a surprise. It’s possible that this is a permanent shift in Apple’s annual schedule, with iOS being updated at WWDC to give developers time to upgrade their apps before a new iPhone in September.