Is The iPhone 5's Release Date Being Pushed Back Until September?
March 28, 2011
In news that will likely upset many would-be iPhone 5 buyers, Apple is probably not going to release its new iOS 5 update until the fall. This rumor, first reported by TechCrunch, could mean Apple is about to forgo its traditional timeframe in releasing iOS updates and perhaps that of the newest iPhone itself.
Although the original iPhone was announced at the January 2007 Macworld convention, each subsequent model was announced at Apple’s own WWDC conference, which is held each June. As has become custom, the company announces a new iOS at the same time, which comes preinstalled on the new iPhone.
This year, Apple could radically change the launch dates of both the iPhone 5 and iOS 5.
You may recall, continued rumors suggest Apple is about to release an overhauled MobileMe service, which will include a “music locker” service.
According to TechCrunch, this release will be timed with the release of iOS 5, which will be a “major revamp” and will be “heavily built around the cloud.”
This suggests that although Apple will demo the new iOS 5 at WWDC in June, none of the improvements will be available until Apple’s annual music-themed event in September.
So where does this leave the iPhone 5? TechCrunch believes it will be revealed in June, as usual. However, it won’t include an updated iOS.
However, I’m not so sure.
First, the iPhone 5 was never expected to be much different than the current iPhone hand set, which was radically changed from the iPhone 3GS model. Besides, millions of iPhone 4 owners are stuck with two-year contract commitments, meaning this isn’t the year for current customers to upgrade.
Plus, the Verizon iPhone only debuted in February. While some AT&T iPhone 4 owners would no doubt break their existing contracts for a new iPhone 5, the same cannot be said for folks that made their iPhone purchase just a few weeks ago.
Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 5 launch itself isn’t pushed to September along with the release of iOS 5.
What do you think? Leave your comments below.