The hype around the expected imminent launch of Apple’s iPhone 5 ratcheted up a notch over the weekend with a well-regarded Japanese website claiming that the device will be unveiled at a launch event on 7 September.

Kodawarisan, which cites unnamed sources, claims Apple will launch the device at an event usually used to update its iPod range. This has been the case for the last three years, with Apple most recently using its September press event to launch the new iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle models. iPhone updates have traditionally been made at the WWDC event in the summer but that event passed this year without word on the next iPhone release.

All Things D reported earlier this month that iPhone 5 will be released in October this year, which would give Apple time to “preannounce” the device at the September event.

The media has also leapt on an engineering vacancy at FT-Orange, which also hinted at a September launch date.  AFP reports that the vacancy calls for an engineer to work on the new device, noting  "one of the main issues is the definition, as precisely as possible, of what impact a handset like the iPhone 5 will have on clients' Internet use." Orange is Apple's official iPhone partner in France.

Apple sold 20.34 million iPhones in the last quarter, representing 142 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. This led to Apple becoming the world’s largest smartphone vendor.