A series of job postings for a number of seasonal iPhone sales staff in the U.K. this summer appear to suggest a mid-August launch of Apple’s next-generation iPhone.
Per CNET UK, the ads were discovered on the U.K. employment site Reed.
“Our client, Apple, one of the largest consumer electronic hardware and software companies in the world are seeking full-time iPhone Sales Staff for an exciting project to work 5 days a week (Tuesday-Saturday) for the period 16th August – 29th October within key retail stores,” the posting reads.
According to the listing, only applicants willing to commit “to the period of the campaign” will be considered.
Given the proscribed seasonality for the new employees, the sales staff appear to be extra help brought on to handle an influx of customers during the launch of Apple’s so-called iPhone 5. Though the listing by no means serves as concrete evidence of mid-August launch, it does indicate that, at least in the U.K. retail preparations for the new device are ramping up through the summer and into the fall.
Successful candidates would attend a “4 day training event” in London from August 9 to 12. The job pays £75 per day and involves working to “generate and grow iPhone sales and ensure sales targets are met” while providing a “first class customer service experience.”
Gekko, the recruiter who posted the listings, boasts several years of experience working with Apple. The company’s website boasts of a “Most Innovative Campaign” award for a staffing campaign for Apple that brought in “nearly £2 million in hardware sales alone.”
The mid-August timeframe would line up with indications from suppliers on Wednesday that Apple’s next iPhone will launch in the third quarter of calendar 2011. Bloomberg reported last month that the next iPhone will go on sale in September and feature an A5 processor and an 8-megapixel camera.
According to recent reports, Apple plans to build 25 million units of the next iPhone by the end of this year. The device is expected to be thinner and lighter than its predecessor and sport wireless baseband chips from Qualcomm. It should also be noted that some analysts expect the next-generation iPhone to arrive in late September or possibly as late as the fourth quarter of this year.
Earlier this month, component suppliers claimed Pegatron had been contracted to produce 15 million units of the new handset. However, a new report on Wednesday suggested Pegatron’s share of next-gen iPhone production may be closer to 10 million as rival manufacturer Foxconn has exerted efforts to protect its orders.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.