iPhone 5 could be iPhone 4S. Latest rumors ahead iPhone 5 launch today.

Bloggers at German sites such as iPhone fan site iFun caught a snapshot of Vodafone Germany’s site offering a menu of new “iPhone 4S” models today – but there was no sign of iPhone 5.

Likewise, Apple Insider and 9 to 5 Mac reported several references to iPhone 4S – and images show the new phone looks exactly like the old iPhone 4.

The 9 to 5 Mac went blog further with an – as yet unconfirmed – “leaked” release date of October 14.

Nothing is certain, but it looks increasingly likely that iPhone 4S might launch today – and iPhone 5 might not appear until 2012.

Analysts predict Apple will “shatter” its one-day sales record of 1.7 million due to “pent up demand”, and it will sell more than 100 million next year.

Opinion is split over whether there will be one or two models launched today – and whether or not it’s called “iPhone 5”, the phone will offer a serious upgrade from last year’s iPhone 4.

What seems certain is that Apple is going to launch a phone with its fast A5 processor and upgraded camera tomorrow. Upgraded speech functions – including a talk-to-text function also seem highly likely, whatever the casing looks like.

“This launch won’t be underwhelming,” said Will Findlater, editor of Stuff magazine.

“We’ve waited 15 months for a new iPhone and the old model now looks old-fashioned – it’s not dual core, and the camera isn’t competitive.

“Apple’s rivals have made huge gains over the past year. Apple needs to upgrade.”

Something big is launching, that is for certain. Huge areas of Apple’s forums are closed “for maintenance” – which hints at big changes to come.

Such moves are near-necessary to allow iPhone to keep pace with rivals such as Samsung and HTC.

What’s dividing analysts and insiders is whether the screen size and casing will change – with some predicting a similar case to iPhone 4 with an upgraded antenna, and others predicting a redesigned, even “curvy” case.

“The competition has really ramped up this year,” said Will Findlater.

“The Taiwanese phone company HTC and Samsung both have very hi-tech handsets. Apple needs to reinvigorate.”

Both HTC and Samsung are launching flagship models within days of Apple’s handset. Whether they will even be noticed in the wave of excitement surrounding iPhone remains to be seen.

“Both companies are still wary,” said Will Findlater.

“They’ve got to be at the top of their game to even compete, otherwise Apple will blow them out of the water. The onus is now on Apple to raise the stakes.”

Some users have predicted a bigger screen – as “apps” such as Facebook’s seem to be behaving oddly, and re-formatting themselves as if in anticipation of a larger screen.

Leaks from Apple’s own inventory seem to have confirmed that the new phone will ship with the fast A5 processor found in iPad 2. Voice-control functions also seem highly likely.

E-mail about iPhone 5GS.

Security software company Sophos is warning that a slick-looking email, seemingly from Apple, offering details of the iPhone “5GS” will infect your PC (not Mac) with malicious software if you open it.

“Apple’s iPhone 5 is due to be revealed to the world tomorrow, which makes today the perfect opportunity for cybercriminals to take advantage of the excitement and exploit it for their own ends,” wrote Sophos’s Graham Cluley on the company blog.

The latest rumors on iPhone 5 launch.

Analysts Ticonderoga Securities said:

“We expect the iPhone 5 to get a makeover with a sleek, aluminum unibody enclosure that more closely resembles the MacBook Air than the iPhone 4.”

A leaked picture on Weibo – China’s Twitter, was reported by sites such as 9 to 5 Mac, appeared to show an all-new chip.

“It is not an iPad 2 chip, since it looks rather different. It bears some resemblance to the current chipset layout in the iPhone 4.”

It won’t be 4G, predicts analysts Wedbush Morgan:

“Expect a new iPhone in early October with store training to begin soon, an iPhone targeting emerging markets, and a 4G iPhone in 2012, with an improved interface.”

Apple will sell 107 million iPhones in 2012, predicts Janney Capital.

“Apple is well positioned to capture an enormous profit pool as mobility and content worlds converge.”