You always know when we are getting closer to a new Apple product especially the iPhone, as we get weeks of speculation and leaks that claim to be components for the upcoming device. Now the company has taken to sending out press invites as the iPhone 5 release draws closer as an Apple event is confirmed.

AppleInsider are reporting that the fruit based company today begun sending out press invites to an event next week. Back in July there were rumours that Apple would be holding an event on September 12th, and this has now been confirmed by the invites going out.

The invitations that have been sent out read “It’s almost here,”, and features a large number 12 that has a shadow of a number 5 beneath it. This implies that we will be seeing the next version of the iPhone unveiled next week with the special event taking place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California.

It will all kick off at 10AM Pacific or 1PM Eastern, and it is believed the device will be available in certain regions a week later on September 21st.

The new handset is thought to be an all new design with a larger 4-inch display housed in a handset that is slightly taller than the current model. There has been talk of a new smaller dock connector for the handset, but the device is not thought to feature a NFC chip.

This latest news comes after reports last week suggested there could be supply shortages of the iPhone 5 at launch because of manufacturing issues with the new display. As usual many of these recent leaks and speculation will be put to bed once Tim Cook and his colleagues take to the stage, and officially unveil the new iPhone.

What are you looking for most with the iPhone 5?