Apple to Announce iPhone 5 at June Conference?

Another report has surfaced pointing to a summer iPhone 5 announcement from Apple. The analysis from Daiwa Securities claims the next generation device will be revealed at the Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in June. This would bring Apple back to its tradition of mid-year iPhone releases.

WWDC 2009

The shift back to a summer release would mark a departure from last year's October iPhone 4S launch, leaving just eight months between the two generations of smartphones. The normal venue for WWDC already has the dates June 11-15 blocked off for a "Corporate Meeting" and is expected to host the Apple event during this week.

The iPhone 5 will be a complete redesign of the device, and is expected to have a slightly taller shape and a larger display than any previous iPhone. Other reports have speculated that the iPhone 5 will feature LTE connectivity and NFC payment technology. The device could also feature an aluminum back and emulate the slim design of the current iPad 2.

When it comes to WWDC announcements, the iPhone 4 was revealed in a keynote by Steve Jobs on June 7, 2010. Last year's event passed without any mention of a replacement for the iPhone 4, and the iPhone 4S was subsequently revealed for the first time by Apple on October 4, 2011. A summer iPhone 5 launch would make it possible for early iPhone 4 adopters to upgrade at the end of their two-year contract later this year.