The iPhone 5 release date has been rumored to be on September 21. While Apple has yet to officially confirm any details on the iPhone 5 release date, sources believe that during the company's Sept. 12 conference, they will announce the next generation iPhone.

TechCrunch cited a "trusted Verizon employee" in August when they reported that the iPhone 5 release date is in fact on September 21. According to the source, the publication reports that Verizon is expecting to hold "an all-staff vacation blackout from that date through the 30th."

More recently, GottaBeMobile reported confirmation of a release date that is on a Friday. The publication cited "a trusted source familiar with Apple's iPhone shipping plans."

According to WebProNews, Josh Smith reported:

Our source tells GottaBeMobile that Apple notified shippers to expect mass shipments of the iPhone 5 on September 21st and shippers are taking steps to make sure enough staff are on hand for the large number of deliveries.

Consumers may receive iPhone 5 shipment notifications early, but shippers are required to hold the iPhone 5 for delivery on the official iPhone 5 release date.

Apple has reportedly sent out official invitations to its unveiling event on September 12, 2012.

The invitation is in classic Apple style; being kept simple and white, but generating huge excitement with its minimal wording.

Despite not specifically mentioning the iPhone 5, Apple still manages to leave no one in doubt that the iPhone 5 will be unveiled at the event.  The invitation has a large number 12 on the face - which corresponds to the date of the event - and this huge number casts a shadow, which is of the number 5 - clearly indicating the iPhone 5 will be made public on that date.

The iPhone 5 is probably the most highly anticipated smartphone to ever be released. For more than a year now Apple fans have touted its release. Many were left slightly disappointed last year by the release of the iPhone 4S instead of the 5, and that unveiling was a revamped iPhone 4 rather than a radical upgrade - which the iPhone 5 promises.

The invitation also builds anticipation to boiling point with the words: "It's almost here."

The event will take place at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, which is where the company has given presentations and made unveilings in the past.

Tags: iphone 5 apple