41% of smartphone users plan to buy the iPhone 5

Apple fanaticism over the next, yet-to-be-announced iPhone appears to be at an all-time high.

According to a survey conducted by mobile ad firm InMobi, 41% of U.S. and 39% of U.K. consumers plan to buy the next-gen iPhone—and they don't even know anything about it (besides iOS 5 and rumours).

The data suggests that up to 63% of BlackBerry users will upgrade to the iPhone 5 (or 4S, or whatever it may be called). As much as 87% of iPhone users will upgrade to the newer iPhone, which aligns with other retention rate studies. One in three Android users have their eyes fixed on the forthcoming Apple gadget.

There is a split between consumers who want an iPhone 5—defined as a major upgrade—and an iPhone 4S, a minor update or second model at a lower price point. Both are in demand, but the majority are drooling over the major upgrade. And given this extended length of time between mobile device refreshes (based on Apple's history since 2007), a major renovation seems likely, if not necessary.

Apple is holding a media event on October 4th that should reveal all the details of the next iPhone (or iPhones), including specs, aesthetics, and the much-awaited release date.