iPhone 5 Due Late-October Insists Source, Not September

The iPhone 5 rumor mill continues to churn through leaks, speculations and our mortal souls, with word this morning that September may not be the launch month after all. Despite multiple sources claiming September as the likely release window and that AT&T was readying staff for just that, a new nameless tipster has told AllThingsD that we shouldn't expect the fifth-gen Apple handset until sometime in October.

"I don't know why AT&T's calling for all hands on deck those weeks," the source is quoted as saying, "but it's not for an iPhone launch." The original leak suggested that AT&T was pushing to get all staff training complete by early September, in time for a high-profile event; that seemed even more likely, given Apple itself had hinted at the possibility of a big September release during its financial call last month.

The new source said October would be the actual release month for the iPhone 5, though declined to give a specific date. Further insiders suggested it would be later in the month, rather than earlier, but nobody would give concrete specifications.

Although the nature of this newest source of iPhone rumors is unclear, it's possible that some of the tips might in fact be an attempt by Apple itself to correct some of the speculation around at present. In that way, the company could establish more realistic expectations and avoid mass disappointment – and a potential share price hit – in September.