Apple is widely expected to unveil the next generation iPhone in October or September at the earliest, but that hasn't stopped a number of Chinese vendors to start taking orders for "iPhone 5".
Reuters reports that while most vendors are taking a deposit of 1,000 yuan ($160) for the new iPhone, one opportunistic seller is asking for full payment of 6,999 yuan ($1,100).
Reuters reports:
Sellers on Taobao, a unit of Alibaba Group, are accepting orders for the iPhone 5, in some cases asking for a deposit of 1,000 yuan ($160) for the new phone. One seller, "Dahai99888", who started accepting pre-orders this week, is asking for full payment upfront, at a cool 6,999 yuan ($1,100).
Reuters also notes that Chinese case manufacturers are already selling hard-shell cases and soft silicone cases for 'iPhone 5', which indicate an elongated 'iPhone 5' with some showing an earphone jack located at the bottom.
Meanwhile, folks at Kitguru (via MacRumors) have published photos of what it claims is the actual device, but it appears to be a physical mockup of the device just like the ones we posted yesterday.
Taobao sellers that Reuters spoke with said they planned to buy the iPhone 5 in Hong Kong or the United States and then bring it to mainland China. Apple products are often available in Hong Kong before they are released on the mainland.
The physical mockup is consistent with the previously leaked photos and videos of purported 'iPhone 5' parts that have revealed that it could come with a taller screen, redesigned speaker grills and change in the position of the headphone jack to the bottom, next to the speakers.
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