iPhone 5 Release Date Could Be October 14

A new report says that Apple is blacking out selected vacation days during the second week of October, strongly indicating that iOS 5, iCloud, and iPhone 5 are expected to be released that week. Specifically, AppleInsider learned that Apple “has in some locations blacked out vacation time for employees from October 9th through 12th and October 14th through 15th“.

More Evidence for an iPhone 5 Release on October 14 or 15
The October 15th date is particularly relevant because several weeks ago, French Telecom CEO Stephane Richard stated that the iPhone 5 would be “out October 15th”. Due to timezone differences, if the EU and US had corresponding release schedules, October 14 could also be the release date in the USA, which may explain why those dates are blacked out from the employees vacation calendar.

Building Evidence for an iOS 5 Release on October 10
Breaking down the blacked out dates of October 9th to 12th, AppleInsider cites three additional pieces of evidence that strongly suggest iOS 5 and iCloud will be made available on those dates:

• AppleCare is expecting an increase in iOS related call volume on Monday, October 10th
• Apple’s past release history shows an iOS update released several days prior to a new hardware launch
• A corresponding Twitter developer event with specific focus on iOS 5 is scheduled between Oct 10 and Oct 12

Similarly, a tipster with a fairly accurate track record, including the specific OS X Lion release date, suggested to OSXDaily via Twitter that Monday October 10th would be a date that some new Apple product or software will become publicly available. Separately, OSXDaily has learned that Apple has been ramping up hiring in their Austin, Texas call center over the past month to prepare for an increase in iCloud and iOS related inquiries.

Apple has only said that iOS 5 would be released in the “Fall” of this year. While all of these specific dates remain officially unconfirmed and speculative, it’s widely accepted that the iPhone 5 will be announced on October 4th at an event led by CEO Tim Cook on Apple’s home campus, One Infinite Loop.