Verizon Executive Potentially Hints at iPhone Launch in Fourth Quarter 2012

As noted by CNET, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo made a comment during today's earnings release conference call that many are interpreting as a hint that the next-generation iPhone will be launching in the fourth quarter of this year.

Apple's next iteration of the iPhone could drop in the fourth quarter.

That's according to Verizon CFO Fran Shammo, who hinted at the possible timing during the company's quarterly conference call today with a vague reference to a major phone the carrier expects to launch in the fourth quarter.

Shammo's exact statement was captured by The Verge:

When asked what might have held customers back from upgrading their devices in Q2, Shammo said that "of course there's always that, uh, rumor mill out there with a new phone coming out there in the fourth quarter, so people may be waiting." While there's a chance that he was referring to the next Nexus phone, this felt more like a thinly-veiled reference to the oft-rumored "new iPhone."

Rumors have been pegging the launch of the next-generation iPhone for the September/October timeframe, but with Verizon's fourth quarter not starting until October 1, Shammo's comment would point toward the latter half of the rumored timeframe.

iphone51
Rendering of next-generation iPhone based on leaked parts and rumors

Shammo could pass his comments off as simply an acknowledgment of the circulating rumors with no inside information coloring his perspective, but observers searching for any hints of Apple's plans are clearly wondering whether the timeframe mentioned by Shammo was indeed based on Apple's schedule.

Last year, Shammo spoke out several times on Apple's iPhone plans, confirming that what became the iPhone 4S would be a world-mode phone capable of operating on both GSM and CDMA networks and noting that Verizon would launch the device simultaneously with AT&T despite Verizon having launched the iPhone 4 midway through its lifecycle.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...

Top Rated Comments

x-evil-x Avatar
177 months ago
Can we please stop calling it the iPhone 5? It's either the iPhone 6, iPhone 4GS, iPhone 4ST (T = Tall) or iPhone XL. iPhone 5 makes NO sense and would just cause all kinds of confusion.

give it up...
who really cares
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Darrensk8 Avatar
177 months ago
Can we please stop calling it the iPhone 5? It's either the iPhone 6, iPhone 4GS, iPhone 4ST (T = Tall) or iPhone XL. iPhone 5 makes NO sense and would just cause all kinds of confusion.

Can we please stop turning these threads into a naming battle :(
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FakeWozniak Avatar
177 months ago
Year after year, there has always been a new iPhone. It's inevitable. I just hope to see the iPhone 5 before the Mayan calendar ends.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DavidLeblond Avatar
177 months ago
Can we please stop calling it the iPhone 5? It's either the iPhone 6, iPhone 4GS, iPhone 4ST (T = Tall) or iPhone XL. iPhone 5 makes NO sense and would just cause all kinds of confusion.

My money is on it being called "iPhone"
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nick_elt Avatar
177 months ago
Can we please stop calling it the iPhone 5? It's either the iPhone 6, iPhone 4GS, iPhone 4ST (T = Tall) or iPhone XL. iPhone 5 makes NO sense and would just cause all kinds of confusion.

I would love to downvote this. Build a bridge. And get over it.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Raftysworld Avatar
177 months ago
Can we please stop calling it the iPhone 5? It's either the iPhone 6, iPhone 4GS, iPhone 4ST (T = Tall) or iPhone XL. iPhone 5 makes NO sense and would just cause all kinds of confusion.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)