iPhone 5 Release Date: AT&T Blocks Employee Vacations for Launch Dates?
The AT&T network has reportedly followed suit with Apple in blacking out employee vacation dates surrounding the release of the iPhone 5.
BGR reported on Tuesday that a source at AT&T confirmed with the blog that the wireless network has prohibited retail employee vacations from October 3 to October 14.
Apple stores have reportedly also blacked out the dates October 9 through 12 and October 14 through 15 to employee vacations.
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These dates seem to be in accordance with Apple's October 4 press conference, which has been confirmed as of yesterday and the proposed October 14 release date of the iPhone 5.
At the conference, new Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil the iphone 5 and iOS 5 and divulge the release date of both products.
BGR's AT&T source has also indicated that six “new product” SKU placeholders are now listed on AT&T’s internal inventory system.
The source suggests that the SKU placeholders could possibly be for new iPhone models such as the iPhone 5 and the proposed low cost option, the iPhone 4S as well as accompanying accessories.
Recently, sources have reported that bumper cases for the iPhone 4S have been seen at AT&T corporate stores.
However, many of the circling iPhone rumors have been conflicting with one another.
Some rumors detail that production delays could hold the iPhone 5 back as late as 2012 and that the iPhone 4S will be the sole iPhone released in October.
While other rumors suggest that the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S will release simultaneously.
Even what will be discussed at the October 4 conference remains a rumor.
Many have noted that the significantly later date of the current launch, four months later than Apple usually launches its iPhones, may be a sign that operations are not running smoothly.
