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Apple posted a job application for iPhone sales specialists, hinting at the possibility of an earlier release for the iPhone 5 than previous rumors have suggested.

The posting surfaced on the U.K. job site Reed two days ago. The listing seeks new iPhone sales specialists willing to work five days a week. New hires will have to undergo four days of training in the second week of August before their first official day of work on August 16. The listing is for a temporary position that will end on October 29.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company often hires additional help in its retail stores for major product launches, even initiating an “all hands on deck” blackout period when employees aren’t allowed to take vacations. The new job posting suggests the company is building up its retail teams in anticipation to the increased traffic a new device launch would bring.

Most recent speculation suggests an iPhone 5 release sometime in September, but Apple’s new hiring schedule may push that date up some.

If these rumors are true, there are several ways Apple may benefit from an August launch of the iPhone 5. An August release could help the company steal the thunder of the anticipated Motorola Droid Bionic, believed to hit stores as early as August 4.

Analysts say the Droid Bionic represents the next evolution in Android phones, boasting many powerful features like dual-core processors. In this light, Apple may want to bring its next generation iPhone to market to compete against the Android device as soon as possible.

Additionally, many know that Apple is overdue for an iPhone refresh. This is the first year Apple didn’t introduce the company’s latest phone at its annual conference in June. With fall approaching, a mid-August release would let Apple take advantage of the back-to-school shoppers and get a head start on the holiday season.

Although the iPhone 5 is expected to hit stores by the end of the year, very little is known about its features. Some reports claimed the phone will feature an entirely new design with a larger screen. Others said the phone will feature more minor upgrades, such as an 8-megapixel camera and an A5 processor with the same exterior design as the iPhone 4.

If Apple’s job posting is indicative of an August iPhone 5 release, we may get the answers to all of our iPhone 5 questions sooner than expected.

Apple Hiring Extra Workers For Possible August IPhone 5 Launch originally appeared at Mobiledia on Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:58 am.