Korean rumor has iPhone 5 arriving late June
updated 11:25 pm EDT, Mon April 4, 2011
Korean claims have iPhone 5 skipping
A potentially sketchy rumor has the iPhone 5 arriving in June after all. The device would still miss WWDC but could have a special event with Steve Jobs weeks later. ETNews claimed to know that both KT and SK Telecom would have the new model along with or soon after other countries.
Despite suspicions, the iPhone 5 wasn't necessarily delayed, according to tips. The unnamed sources didn't have an explanation for Sony's Sir Howard Stringer warning that iPhone cameras might be delayed due to the Japanese earthquake.
The assertions are dodgy and contradict Apple's usual pattern of Korean iPhone launches. It usually ships to Korea months after everyone else and only just shipped the iPhone 4 to SK Telecom. Even with a July ship date, it would give the current iPhone just over three months on the market.
Apple also rarely has an event so close after WWDC. If a release is close to the event, it usually prefers to mention the new hardware at the event itself and time the release accordingly.
If not at WWDC, the unveil's actual release date is still a mystery. Although both the initial tip and follow-up rumors have presumed the September media event would be the most likely candidate, they didn't know for certain and didn't rule out an in-between event. Apple might want the iPhone 5 to ship as quickly as possible to hedge against Android and could be unwilling to wait any longer than necessary.
