Apple shares shot higher on Monday after unconfirmed reports that the tech giant was preparing to launch a new version of its hot-selling iPhone next month.
Apple traded up 1.7 percent to end the day at US$595.03.
The technology blog iMore, which follows Apple events, said it learned that a launch event was set for Sept. 12 for the iPhone 5, and that the phones would start shipping by Sept. 21.
The report cited “sources who have proven accurate in the past.”
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The blog said the new iPad mini — a smaller version of the market-leading tablet computer — would be announced at the same event along with a new iPod nano.
It said the release date for the iPad mini was not set, but that it could come at the same time as the iPhone 5.
Apple normally keeps its product launches close to the vest, but a number of reports have said the iPhone and iPad would be released in time for holiday sales. However, the iMore report was the first with a specific launch date.
The Dow Jones Web site AllThingsD confirmed that Apple had scheduled a “special event” on Sept. 12, but not whether it was for the iPhone. The technology site said however that it was clear that Apple is “ramping up for a big fall product cycle” by stockpiling inventory components.
Another Apple-monitoring blog, iLounge, said it learned “from a highly reliable source” that the new iPhone would be ready in the middle of next month, “pointing to a launch date in about the third week of next month, maybe a little later if it waits to build additional inventory.”
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