Media reports continue to provide conflicting messages on when the new iPhone will be unveiled by Apple. In the last few weeks it was widely reported that the traditional June unveiling of the new device will be pushed back to September at the earliest (leaving Apple to focus on updating its iOS platform at its June WWDC gathering). That rumour was then quashed by many news agencies, but new reports this week suggest the iPhone 5 won’t be unveiled until the fall.

The most interesting aspect of this development is the impact it could have on the iPhone 5’s functionality. If Apple does commit to a June unveiling, the new device would be likely to feature support for NFC and HSPA+ technology, a dual-core processor upgrade, as well as an 8MP camera and a slightly larger screen (and possibly even a long-awaited white shell). Should Apple decide to wait until later this year, it is possible Apple could include support for LTE technology in the device. That would be a huge move and one likely to give the nascent LTE device market a major boost.