iPhone 4s just released last weekend and now the countdown begins. People are eagerly waiting for iPhone 5, or the sixth generation of Apple phones, as referred to by the company. It is only months before we get to see the new Verizon iPhone and has become a topic of discussion all across the globe. Typically, the gap between two iPhone versions has always been about 12 months, however this time the gap has been extended to 16 months. We have tried to assess a few aspects, so as to estimate the release of iPhone 5.

iPhone 4S sales are known to be a determining factor for the release of iPhone 5. As a matter of fact, Apple has confirmed record setting sales with the 4S and if the sales continue at the same pace, Apple might not prepone the release iPhone 5. However, if the sales drop in the New Year, Apple might just release the new version around spring. Another factor that decides the release of iPhone 5 is the 4G LTE network. Major service providers across the world are building their own LGE networks. Therefore, Apple is presumably waiting for consumers to get an access to this network before the release of iPhone 5.

Besides, all those using the Verizon iPhone 4S will have no choice but to upgrade with the release of iPhone 5. People often think that the upgrade pricing would correlate with their contract length, however it is never the case. Typically, the phone contracts in United States last over a period of 2 years. Therefore, the consumers get a fair chance to upgrade their phones after the completion of the contract. Considering the anticipation revolving around iPhone 5, the carriers might readily change the contracts or offer an upgrade to their consumers.