Yesterday I told you that iOS 5 GM could be released between September 23 and 30, the period in which Apple would hold the presentation conference of the new operating system and the iPhone 5. Today those from BGR I come with similar information and claim that iOS 5 beta 8 will be available on Friday and iOS 5 GM will be released on the 23rd, when theoretically we should also see a conference presenting the new products. If the information is true or not, we should find out today when Apple should send invitations for a conference that would take place next week, maybe even on Wednesday.
We have received some information from a trusted source surrounding the upcoming release of iOS 5 that could help pinpoint a more specific launch time frame for the iPhone 5. Starting off, we have been told that even though Apple seeded iTunes 10.5 beta 8 last week, iOS 5 beta 8 won't be released until this Friday. After beta 8, Apple will introduce a Gold Master build on or around September 23rd as has been rumored. We believe that build is what will be loaded onto the already-assembled iPhone 5 hardware currently waiting for final software in China. Apple will then request that carrier partners give technical acceptance to the Gold Master by October 5th if there are no issues with it. What's not clear is what Apple will do if the Gold Master doesn't pass technical acceptance for some reason, although odds are it will still be loaded on the iPhone 5 at launch with a software update made available almost immediately following the device's release.
In addition to the release dates of the beta and GM versions of iOS 5, those from BGR claim that the mobile phone operators must give their opinion by October 5 regarding the fulfillment of the technical conditions of the new operating system. That is the date when Apple should have the support of the operators for the release of the new operating system and since then everything falls into line for the official release of iOS 5 and iPhone 5. Until now BGR has always been right about the release of new versions of iOS, so their sources were reliable and the situation could be the same now.
The information from BGR regarding the granting of the technical approval for iOS 5 GM could indicate a scheduled release 10 days later, as the president of France Telecom claims.
