iPhone 5 Release Date: Early October, iOS 5 Beta 8 Comes Friday?

It seems like there could be some credibility to the rumors of an iPhone 5 release date in October as it is has been reported that the iOS 5 beta 8 will be released this Friday.

BGR.com reported that it got news from a source involved in the release of iOS 5 that even though Apple seeded iTunes 10.5 beta 8 last week, iOS 5 beta 8 won't be released until this Friday.

Following the release of beta 8, Apple will introduce a Gold Master build on or around Sept. 23, according to BGR.com.

Apple is reportedly stockpiling iPhone 5s in order to meet a release next month with Foxconn rumored to be producing 150,000 units a day. iPhone 5 shipments from the supply chain are expected to reach five to six million in September and top more than 22 million units in the fourth quarter.

Besides German Apple carrier partner Deutsche Telekom already having pre-sales for Apple's fifth-generation smartphone, Macotakara reported that Apple's manufacturing partners have begun assembling the iPhone 5. That report cited information from an anonymous source, noting that the finished devices aren't being packaged as yet because the release build of iOS 5 hasn't been finalized.