If you are an Apple employee in one of its retail stores, it is better if you not plan a vacation anytime soon, as Apple seems to black out vacation days from October 9 to 12 and October 14 and 15. These dates have been blacked out by Apple in some locations, hinting that the tech company will need everyone to staff stores for a possible major product launch.
According to a report by AppleInsider, AppleCare agents have been told to prepare for a heavy influx of calls that relate to the new iOS 5. Also, micro blogging site Twitter is said to have scheduled a pair of “Developer Teatimes” and an event for developers on October 10 and 12, focusing on the service’s integration with the iOS 5.
Apple has introduced a new operating system prior to a smartphone launch. Last year, Apple released the iOS 4 on June 21, three days before it launched the iPhone 4. A year before that, the iOS 3.0 was launched on June 17, with the iPhone 3GS shipping on June 21.
The vacation blackout dates have been the latest in a number of iPhone rumors. Last week, Former US Vice President and Apple board member Al Gore hinted that Apple will debut iPhones this year.
While there are no confirmed details about the upcoming devices, many say that the company will unveil the cheaper iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5. The two devices will compete with Google’s Android smartphones.
via: App Advice
There's no mention in the All Things D report on whether or not Apple will still be unveiling the iPhone 5 at an event in September, but it's certainly still a possibility. Last year Apple revealed that factory unlocked iphone 4 in early June but didn't actually release it until later in the month, so it wouldn't be a total shock to see the Cupertino-based firm unveil the new iPhone in September and then launch it a few weeks later in October.