A new leaked doc from Canadian carrier Telus (via MobileSyrup) shows that the carrier has plans to discontinue the iPhone 5 on September 28 just days after the next-generation iPhones are rumored to launch. Although it would lend weight to the theory that Apple could get rid of the iPhone 5 since the rumored iPhone 5S and especially the lower cost iPhone 5C are so close internally to the current device, the doc only shows that the 32GB and 64GB models will be discontinued, which might be a clue the 16GB iPhone 5 will stick around as an entry level model.
Keeping the 16GB iPhone 5 seems to line up with what we’ve been hearing at Verizon and adds even more weight to the theory that Apple will keep the iPhone 5 around as a lower cost option perhaps in between the 5S and the 5C in much the same way that the last-gen iPhone 4S currently occupies the $99/plan spot in Apple’s lineup.
On the other hand, often-accurate KGI analyst Mingchi Kuo said earlier this month that he thinks Apple will stop selling the iPhone 5 at the end of Q3 2013 and continuing selling the iPhone 4S until the end of the year.
Apple yesterday sent out invites to the September 10th event and is expected to start selling the iPhone 5S and 5C starting around the 20th of September.
Update: Similar chatter is coming out of Vodafone Germany, indicating that the 32GB and 64GB iPhone 5 and 16GB iPhone 4S will soon be discontinued.
- Apple sends invites to Chinese media for special Sept. 11 event fueling China Mobile iPhone launch rumors (9to5mac.com)
- New photo claims to show iPhone 5S home button part, possibly pointing to fingerprint sensor (9to5mac.com)
- Apple said to have tested 64-bit ‘A7′ chips for iPhone 5S, 31% speed increases reported (9to5mac.com)
- Low-quality photos claim to show ‘iPhone 5C’ packaging, color-matched wallpapers (9to5mac.com)
- Virgin is selling iPhones at next month’s prices (20% off), iPhone 5 starts at $440 (9to5toys.com)
