Apple likely to launch iphone 5 on Sept. 12

Apple has announced it would be holding a media event on Sept. 12 and hinted that it would include the launch of the iPhone 5, confirming weeks of rumors that had mentioned that date as the most likely for the unveiling of the company's new smartphone.

The email invitation shows a big '12', for September 12, casting a shadow in the shape of a '5'.

Various unconfirmed reports have pointed to September 12 as being the day Apple shows off the new phone, which is expected to go on sale a week or two later.

The event will take place at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the preferred venue for the unveiling of past products such as the iPad.Apple's iPhone launches are among the most-watched events on the tech industry calendar.