Apple has finally confirmed a press conference for Tuesday 4 October, where the company will almost certainly unveil the iPhone 5.

But when is the iPhone 5 release date?

The CEO of France Telecom, parent company of Orange, has given a pretty clear indication that the iPhone 5 release date is set for mid-October, going as far as giving an actual date when he thinks the iPhone 5 launch will be,

Speaking to French media, the chatty Stéphane Richard (who, lest we forget, is quite happy to wax lyrical on Apple's plans), said that his network had heard word of Apple's iPhone 5 coming soon:

"If we believe what we have been told, the iPhone 5 will be released on 15 October," said the CEO, declining to give further details on who or why had told him that

So could the iPhone 5 release date really be 15 October?

What is more curious is that date lands on a Saturday – once again making it look like we've got misinformation over the iPhone 5 release date, as Apple prefers making everyone skive off work to go and queue up outside its doors to be among the first to get the new device.

Staff at Apple Stores in the UK have been told not to take any holiday in the first two weeks of October, prompting even more speculation that the iPhone UK release date will be around this time.

Whenever the iPhone 5 release date is, be sure to check out our rumour round up video: