Follow Us - Twitter | Like Us - Facebook | Follow Us - Digg | Newiphone5.netCall the iPhone 5 late arrival a delay if you want, but the breadcrumbs have been there all along to point to September being part of Apple’s master plan. From the odd-timed Verizon iPhone 4 to the white followup to the 4G hangover, signs abound that Apple has been planning for some time that the iPhone 5 release date would come more than a year after that of the iPhone 4, even if it does bust up Apple’s tradition of popping out a new iPhone every twelve months. Here are the signs as to why the iPhone 5 was never coming this summer. - When Apple allowed Verizon to push out a Verizon iPhone 4 in February, many assumed it would fall by the wayside in favor of the iPhone 5 within a few months. Apple’s exclusivity deal with AT&T prevented Verizon from being in on the original iPhone 4 launch, which was likely the genesis of the iPhone 5 late release. Apple figured it would push out a Verizon iPhone 4 in late winter, a white iPhone 4 in late spring, and an iPhone 5 after summer. In hindsight, the vPhone 4 was a sign that Apple wasn’t in any hurry to kill off the iPhone 4. - On that note, there’s good reason. Now that the smoke has cleared from the various iPhone 4 pseudo-controversies, the numbers show it to be a runaway success, outselling the previous generation by about a two to one – and widening – margin. No wonder Apple isn’t in a hurry to get to the iPhone 5. - As a cherry on top, the later Apple waits to push the iPhone 5 out the door, the more of an impact 4G will have. Right now, Verizon and AT&T barely have 4G presence to speak of. But by the fall it’ll be a different story. - Finally, Apple has figured out what should have been obvious all along: while the public heavily favors the iPhone over Android (ask any non-geek), they’re not generally willing to change carriers to make it happen. The arrival of the Verizon iPhone, and the presumed arrival of a T-Mobile iPhone and a Sprint iPhone, are ultimately more important to marketshare than the iPhone 5. That means Apple can afford to take its time in developing the next iPhone while allowing the carriers to fight the marketshare battle on its behalf in the mean time. Here’s more on the iPhone 5. Follow Us - Twitter | Like Us - Facebook | Follow Us - Digg | Newiphone5.net |