14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is reportedly using its own auditorium to host the much-awaited launch of the iPhone 5, according to chatter between people who are close to the company.
Reported by the same source that last week broke the October 4 event date, the latest word from Apple connects is that Tim Cook will offer the first look at the next iPhone at the company’s Town Hall Auditorium in early October.
It is being speculated that Apple was unable to book the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco (the company’s usual choice for major announcements) simply because the venue had already been secured by someone else.
There is also the possibility that Apple doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Tim Cook as he delivers his first keynote presentation as the company’s chief executive, according to All Things D.
Finally, Apple may not be 100 percent sure that October 4 works for them just yet.
Whichever of the above scenarios is true (if any of them is even likely), the WJS blog’s sources seem dead sure Apple will be unveiling the iPhone 5 at its campus.
In related news, Apple reportedly blocking requests for employee vacations during the second week of October.
This falls in line extremely well with the October 4 launch date, as Apple is expected to ship the handset two weeks thereafter, at which point it will need its retail staff to exercise 110% efficiency.
It was also reported recently that Apple’s phone-support staff had been instructed to anticipate calls related to iOS 5 around October 10, meaning Apple will release the new mobile operating system on or even before that date.
With all these details now available, the iPhone 5 launch is pretty much confirmed for early October.
The wait is now on for Apple to start sending invitations to the media, which will confirm the exact date of the event.