The Apple iPhone 5 release date might be closer than we thought. It’s possible the Apple iPhone 5 release date for both AT&T and Verizon iPhones could come as soon as June or July of 2011. That could be huge news for potential Verizon customers who have become extremely excited about purchasing one of the new Verizon iPhones this February. Rumors of the release date coming as soon as July could temper some of the excitement consumers have been experiencing.
There has not been an exact release date given for the iPhone 5 yet, so that may serve to frustrate some consumers who want exact dates. At Forbes, writer Bob Egan is calling the iPhone 5 a “summer” release, where he urges consumers to consider the early termination fees that could come along with wanting the newest iPhone right away.
AT&T recently raised their fees when it comes to customers wanting to terminate their contracts early, so don’t get ready to jump from AT&T (or Sprint) over to Verizon unless you have read all the new fine print in your contract. Those early termination fees? They are running at $325 on AT&T right now.
The iPhone 5 was not one of the phones revealed during the 2011 CES smartphone demonstrations, possibly because Apple really wants to set its own stage as the release date draws closer. It could be a smart move in the end, especially if something big is going to be included on the new phone.
Maybe by the time the iPhone 5 release date rolls around, Verizon will be ready to present a really great phone on their network.
The first Verizon iPhone (iPhone 4 coming out in February) won’t even be 4G, so those hoping for a faster network while leaving AT&T behind might be in for a shock. Many AT&T iPhone users have experienced the slow network, especially if you are traveling through the areas in the middle of the country. That could lead to immediate frustrations with the new Verizon iPhone, and could be a strong warning about waiting for the iPhone 5.
CNET already revealed reasons to stay away from the iPhone 4, and it is still hard to argue with them, even with all of the excitement of Verizon getting into this new iPhone market.
If the iPhone 5 is indeed out on the market in June, it could make many consumers who purchase the iPhone 4 very frustrated. The reality is that many consumers who have been waiting for the first Verizon drop-date may not even care about rumors of new phones in the future, but rather that they will finally get their hands on an iPhone. It’s hard to blame them after AT&T has seemingly controlled the market for so long.
The ultimate question in all of this is whether the iPhone 5 will still be at the top of the smartphone market in the summer of 2011, or if many of the releases advertised at CES 2011 will take the lead.
More From YCN:
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Sources:
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CNET_iPhone4_Review