14 DAY TRIAL // A source with a mixed track record on Apple rumors reports that the company’s sixth-generation iPhone, the iPhone 5, is launching not this summer, but in fall.
With the iPhone 4S launching in October 2011, breaking Apple’s summer refresh cycle that had spanned years in a row, many believed it was just a hiccup on behalf of the Cupertino, California-based giant.
In fact, several sources had confirmed at the time that Apple was experiencing issues getting the iPhone 5 together, so they ultimately went for an identical design with a few internal enhancements, such as the dual-core A5 processor, the enhanced 8 megapixel camera, and the Siri personal assistant.
All that was supposed to launch around a completely redesigned handset, but production issues forced Apple to set the modified chassis aside.
The company’s original plan is back on track now, but the summer refresh cycle isn’t, according to a “reliable” Asian source who told Japanese blog Macotakara that “[the] next iPhone will be released in September or October.”
Not only that, Apple plans to keep this cycle “for years,” the source added.
The company’s little experiment last year yielded millions of iPhone 4S sales, allowing it to post mind boggling profits in Q1 2012. And the Christmas holiday season likely had to do a lot with those results too.
All in all, the Japanese blog suggests we shouldn’t be expecting Apple’s next iPhone to launch at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which is usually held in June.
While some may be disappointed at the sound of this news, Apple has already confirmed plans to ship OS X Mountain Lion this summer. Considering that WWDC is mainly about software, it makes sense for the company’s next developer gathering to focus on OS X 10.8, and its subsequent release to the public.