iPhone 5 rumoured for October 4 unveiling

Apple is rumoured to be holding its iPhone 5 press conference on October 4.

New chief executive Tim Cook will unveil the handset at the media event, and announce that it is to be released in the weeks following, reports All Things Digital.

The iPhone 5 has long been rumoured to arrive next month. Last week, France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard claimed to have heard from an inside source that the device will debut on October 15.

Cook stepped into the role of Apple CEO following the departure of Steve Jobs at the end of August. The iPhone 5 will be his first major product introduction since taking on the post.

Speculation about the iPhone 5's specifications flooded the internet after a prototype version of the handset was reportedly lost by an Apple employee in a bar.

The device has been rumoured to sport a teardrop design akin to the latest iPod Touch. It may also have an aluminium metal backing, rather than the current glass back piece, and is likely to feature the new iOS5 operating system.

JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz predicts that Apple will roll out an enhanced version of the iPhone 4 alongside the fifth iteration handset. A white version of the iPod Touch is also said to be in the works.

Apple is expected to officially announce the date of its next media event soon.