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Apple posted a job application for iPhone sales specialists, hinting at a possible August release of the iPhone 5.

The posting, on U.K. job site Reed, 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, ending on October 29.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company often hires additional workers to help its retail stores during major product launches, even initiating an "all hands on deck" blackout period where employees are prohibited from taking vacations. The new job posting implies Apple may be building up its retail teams in anticipation of the increased traffic from the next-generation iPhone.

Recent speculation suggests Apple plans to release the iPhone 5 in September, but Apple's new hiring schedule may push up the launch date.

If these rumors are true, Apple may benefit by stealing the thunder of Motorola's Droid Bionic, expected 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.

Apple pushed back its customary iPhone unveiling in June, so an August release would take advantage of back-to-school season. The new iPhone is rumored to feature an entirely new design with a larger screen, an 8-megapixel camera and an A5 chip, the processor used in the iPad.

This post originally appeared at Mobiledia.