The tech world is buzzing with anticipation of the iPhone 5’s unveiling, after Apple invited media to a news conference next week.
The email invitation was sent to reporters on Tuesday for an event that will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 12 in San Francisco.
The invite shows a big “12” casting a shadow in the shape of a “5” with the words “It’s almost here” written above.
Rumored details of the much-anticipated iPhone 5 have been circulating for weeks.
Following news of the media event, TechCrunch called the iPhone 5 “the most leaked pre-release Apple device ever.”
The technology website reported on Tuesday that Apple’s newest smartphone will have a bigger four-inch screen.
The current model, the iPhone 4S, has a 3.5-inch display.
The new model is also rumored to include high-speed LTE connectivity, a smaller dock connector and will ship with Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 6.
Photos claiming to be of the new iPhone 5 were posted on a Chinese technology website last week. It showed a longer, narrower iPhone with a larger screen.
Other unconfirmed reports say Apple will reveal a smaller version of the iPad, taking on competitors like the Amazon Kindle Fire, which have attempted to encroach on the iPad's dominance in the tablet market.
The announcement will take place at 10 a.m. There is no confirmation if Apple will be live streaming the event.
On Wednesday, Nokia and Motorola are holding events of their own in New York, apparently to reveal their latest products ahead of the iPhone launch.
Apple shares rose $5.18 to $676.42 in afternoon trading on Tuesday. The shares are close to their all-time high of $680.87, hit one week ago.
The iPhone 4S was released in September 2011. Apple reportedly sold 35 million iPhones in the first quarter of 2012.
With files from The Associated Press
