Rumor Mill: T-Mobile vacation blackout hints at Sept. 20-22 iPhone launch

T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) employees will not be able to take vacation time from Sept. 20-22, according to the blog TMoNews, which could be an indication that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will launch its next iPhone iterations during that period.

The blog, which cited unnamed sources, said the blackout could be related to an iPhone launch. Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note III might launch around that time too, but the more likely explanation is for an iPhone launch. Other carriers in the past have enacted similar vacation restrictions during iPhone releases.

A T-Mobile spokesman declined to comment.

AllThingsD recently reported that Apple will announce the new iPhone an event on Sept. 10. Apple has not confirmed that date or any details about the next iPhone launch. If the past is any indication though, Apple could kick off new iPhone sales on Sept. 20; sales typically start 10 days after a new iPhone is announced.

Apple is pushing assembly partner Hon Hai Precision Co., better known as Foxconn, to start shipping both a new, high-end and a new, low-end iPhone in early September, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. The report, citing unnamed sources, would appear to confirm analysts' suspicions and swirling rumors that Apple will announce two new iPhone models during a September event. Analysts have suspected that Apple will introduce a lower-cost iPhone model with a plastic casing and cheaper components in addition to a new flagship model.

For more:
- see this TMoNews article

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