iPhone 5's tryst with the grapevine continues. Close on the heels of the recent photo leaks and the in-cell technology rumor is yet another one - iPhone 5 cases have been spotted online and the specs are in keeping with the leaks, showcasing a longer, thinner version of the smartphone with a new dock connector in tow.

According to Cydiablog, the new cases were spotted on the website of a China-based iPhone parts supplier TVC-Mall. Several publications, including the Wall Street Journal, had reported that the iPhone 5 would be taller and thinner than its predecessor. The designing details of the cases are in keeping with the reported schematics and iPhone 5 rumors. The iPhone 5 cases suggest that the smartphone will have a larger screen and a smaller dock connecter, which is located on the bottom.

Fancy a hard shell Hello Kitty cover or you're more of a silicon person? Now you can choose your iPhone 5 favorite as a bunch of third-party manufacturers are letting you cherry pick from several offerings on b2b website Alibaba.com, which serves as a marketplace to purchase items directly from bulk suppliers. The cases can be bought for as little as $1.98 each or in bulk.

However, TVC-Mall forewarns buyers with the following disclaimer.

"Notice: As iPhone 5 has not been unveiled, we can't guarantee this product can be used in iPhone 5," a large, red warning reads. "If you have any questions, please contact our friendly customer service representatives."

With manufacturers queuing up to stock-up on stipulated iPhone 5 accessories ahead of its launch, one cannot but help wonder if the rumors are fuelling the production or there's a fragment of truth in this. Given that accessories are an important and lucrative aspect of the mobile phone industry, could there be a distinct possibility that Apple has indeed given out spec details to trusted manufacturers?

Nevertheless, a whiff of the past seems to embalm the iPhone 5 case saga. Prior to the iPhone 4 S launch in 2011, a crop of cases that supposedly resembled the expected iPhone 4S design were whipped up by manufacturers. The design prophesized a curved back and a relocation of the phone's mute switch, ultimately, both were amiss in the final Apple offering. According to Forbes, in 2011, iPhone vendor Hard Candy had spent more than $10,000 on molds for a thinner, wider version of the iPhone 4S that didn't materialize in accordance with the then rumors.

On the other hand, leaked case rumors have sometimes also been accurate. In the distant past they have accurately exposed iPad 2's larger speaker and that the iPod Nano and iPod Touch were getting a camera.

The perks of getting it right are aplenty and the third-party iPhone case manufacturers may just hit jackpot with early sales if all the speculations bear fruition. For manufacturers who choose to wait for an official launch it will be weeks or even months before they can get the first batch of cases out on the market.

With a new rumor and several suppositions circulating almost every day, the hypothesized Apple smartphone must surely rank as one of the most talked about phones ever! The irony of it all is that everything surrounding the fabled iPhone 5, including its name, is based on conjecture alone. Apple on its part has cleverly chosen to keep mum and be a mere a spectator to all the dramarama. With a few months left for the anticipated fall unveiling, it remains to be seen if the curious "case" of the iPhone 5 will see materialization or if the Apple cart will make many tumble over!