All but confirms imminent iPhone update

Shipping times for the iPhone 4 have extended to 1 to 3 days at Apple's online store, checks show. The one exception is the 16GB black Verizon model, which is still shipping within 24 hours. iPhones have been available in a 24-hour window for the past several months, making any new delay unusual.

Once an Apple product reaches the one-day shipping threshold it tends to remain there until an update is imminent, at which point the company lets stock dwindle and ultimately vanish. Today's iPhone delay all but confirms plans to release a new iPhone within the next several weeks; recent reports have pointed to a narrower target in early- to mid-October, possibly as soon as October 7th. Apple's main manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is already said to be building 150,000 iPhone 5s per day.

By Electronista Staff