Al Gore Confirms iPhone 5 Launch Date, Hints at iPhone 4S

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore held a speech at the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in South Africa this week where he seemingly confirmed that Apple is about to release more than one new iPhone model this year.

Rumors of two new device models - iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 - arriving this year are abound, and Gore seems to be on top of them with his confirmation that Apple is launching upgraded versions next month.

It is important to note that the former U.S. Vice President is a member on Apple’s Board of Directors.

The editors of Stuff Magazine in South Africa reportedly recorded Gore’s speech during which he spoke about photovoltaic cells for solar energy.

He reportedly mentioned Moore’s Law and how transistors have multiplied, followed by this line: “Not to mention the new iPhones coming out next month. That was a plug.”

Gore’s use of plural to mention a new iPhone launch naturally sparked a flame that’s now spreading like wildfire throughout the technology industry.

His words came just hours after an All Things D report had allegedly learned the schedule for Apple’s iPhone 5 event - October 4th.

Then again, the politician could have simply said ‘iPhones’ referring to the mass production of a single model, or why not even the various configurations (memory, color, wireless capabilities) of one iPhone version.

And it’s also fairly possible that Gore is simply in the loop with the latest iPhone rumors, rather than having any insight from the Cupertino tech giant itself.

But regardless of how you interpret Gore’s words, it is clear that him being on Apple’s board makes his comments extremely quote-worthy.

Now, as for the actual evidence that there are two new iPhones coming out this fall, everything seems to point to an iPhone 4S announcement. iPhone 5 leaks are nothing but third-party cases, and those can be fake.

Either Apple is keeping a tight lid on its plans with a full-fledged fifth-generation iPhone, or the device simply isn’t on this year’s roadmap.