iPhone 5 rumored for September 21 debut

Apple's next iPhone could launch next month, according to a TechCrunch report. The technology blog is reporting that cell phone service provider Verizon is preventing its employees from taking vacation between September 21 and September 30, suggesting that there will be a significant event during that span requiring all hands on deck.

Previous iPhone launches have also been accompanied by vacation blackouts, both from Apple and its various partners. The release timing would also line up with previous rumors that had pegged an iPhone 5 announcement for an Apple event supposedly to be held September 12. Other big announcements rumored for the event include an iPad Mini, as well as a new iPod Nano.

Apple has introduced one new version of the iPhone every year since the product first launched in 2007. The current iteration, the iPhone 4S, launched in October of 2011.