AT&T Said To Be Ready for iPhone 5 Launch

By Josh Long

AT&T, the second-largest U.S. mobile operator, is poised to launch Apples next-generation iPhone 5 handset. Boy Genius Report asserts it has learned that the mobile operator has begun revealing its plans internally in anticipation of the launch.

A source told the site that AT&T is asking managers to finish training so employees will be available to handle foot traffic at the end of September. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 5 in September after announcing the new device at the end of August, according to the report.

Some analysts expect the iPhone 5 to support Long Term Evolution (LTE), the 4G technology that Verizon Wireless has deployed in 102 markets and AT&T will begin rolling out this summer in select cities.

Apples iPhone has proven to be one of the most popular gadgets on the planet. In its fiscal 2011 third quarter ending June 25, Apple sold 20.34 million iPhones, exceeding analysts expectations. Wall Street was expecting Apple to sell 17 million iPhones, according to Jeffries analyst Peter Misek.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless activated a combined 5.9 million iPhones in the second quarter over their 3G networks.