iPhone 5 Release Date Still Looks Good for September 21st

Verizon has already been reported to have a vacation blackout for the week of September 21st and now it looks like AT&T has the same policy in place, something which seems to point to the iPhone 5 release date as being September 21st.

According to TechCrunch, AT&T employees have been given the same vacation blackout dates that were given to Verizon employees. The dates range from September 21st to September 31st.

AT&T has denied that this is the case but we wouldn’t expect AT&T to confirm something like this.

It also looks like AT&T employees are receiving training for an unnamed “iconic device” which seems to hint at the iPhone 5, a device that was previously rumored for a September 12th launch and a September 21st release date.

Read: Verizon Issues Vacation Blackout For iPhone 5 Release Date.

So, more and more it’s looking like Apple will announce the iPhone 5 at the beginning of the month and release the iPhone 5 shortly afterwards.

It’s unclear at this point whether the iPad Mini will be a part of this event or if it will come in a separate event in October as has been rumored.

The iPhone 5 is rumored to be a big improvement over the iPhone 4S from a feature standpoint and likely from a software standpoint as well.

Read: AT&T Prepares for iPhone 5 Release Date.

The new version of Apple’s smartphone is apparently going to come with a 4-inch display, a thinner design, a faster processor, an HD front-facing camera, a metal back and 4G LTE data speeds.

Its larger screen and 4G LTE data connectivity would represent bold changes for Apple’s smartphone as the previous models featured 3.5-inch displays and either 3G or “4G” connectivity.

iOS 6 Release Date

Hardware isn’t the only piece of new coming with the iPhone 5. Apple’s new iOS 6 software will also be on board the device when and if it arrives in September.

Apple generally releases iOS 6 before the release of the smartphone so right now, it’s looking like iOS 6 could be released to owners of current iDevices anywhere between September 12th and September 21st.

iOS 6 Features

iOS 6 will be coming with hundreds of new features including a new Apple-made Maps app that will replace Google Maps as the native navigation application, Facebook integration, UI tweaks, a Do Not Disturb feature, upgrades to Siri and more.

Apple will likely include at least one unique iOS 6 feature on the iPhone 5 in the same way it did with the iPhone 4S and Siri last year.

It’s still unclear what the feature will be though.