Japanese Apple blog Macotakara is reporting that we might have to wait a little longer for the next-gen iPhone than previous rumors have led us to believe.

According to “reliable sources,” Apple will stay on the schedule set in 2011 and release the iPhone 5 sometime in the Fall, between September and October. The iPhone 4S was launched in October 2011 at a special media, so if this new rumor proves accurate, Apple will have put about a year between releases. Macotakara says that this is the preferred cycle that Apple plans to keep for some time.

This directly contradicts the last major iPhone 5 rumor, courtesy of DigiTimes. Their sources said that Apple would not wait a year before launching their new device, announcing it to the world at their annual Worldwide Developers Conference in mind-June. 2011’s WWDC focused primarily on software – iOS 5, Mac OS X Lion, and the iCloud. The report said that Apple would switch it up and make a big hardware announcement in 2012.

MacRumors cites additional sources to back up a fall release, saying they “similarly heard from a representative of a supplier known to provide parts for the iPhone that Apple’s ordering plans are pointing toward a launch of new hardware in the September.”

Even earlier rumors from the end of January had sources from the inside of Apple manufacturing arm Foxconn saying that they were about to begin production on the new phone.

Rumors contradicting rumors. Can’t say I’m surprised. If the iPhone rumor mill is anywhere near as topsy turvy as the months leading up to the iPhone 4S release, we’re in for a wild ride.

For more iPhone 5 coverage, including possible specs and features, check out our page.