New evidence further supports recent rumors that a next-generation iPhone 5, expected to be revealed in the next several weeks, will launch on Sprint's nationwide CDMA network this fall. It now appears that Best Buy is preparing for iPhone availability on Sprint for the first week in October, while contractors are reportedly busy installing Sprint network repeaters near Apple Store locations.

The CDMA-compatible iPhone 4 model released for Verizon earlier this year made use of a dual-mode GSM/CDMA baseband chip. Such an inclusion led us to believe that Apple intends to standardize the dual-mode baseband for the next iPhone hardware refresh, and analysts have suggested that such a move would then open up the device to more US carriers, including Sprint.

More recent information suggested Sprint compatibility was forthcoming, cemented by a Wall Street Journal report in August that claimed the iPhone 5 would indeed be coming to Sprint, launching in unison with AT&T and Verizon in October.

Best Buy is now apparently jumping on board by preparing to take pre-orders for a Sprint-compatible iPhone 5 beginning sometime this month, according to Boy Genius Report, with availability set for the first week in October. Furthermore, it appears that Sprint is bolstering its network availability in and around Apple Store retail locations ahead of an expected launch. A contractor in Austin, Texas told Beatweek that his company was charged with installing Sprint network "repeaters" around The Domain mall, including one inside the Apple Store itself.

Several Ars readers said that they were looking forward to being able to use the iPhone with Sprint's unlimited "everything" plans, and the wait may be over soon. From what we gather, Apple will likely unveil the iPhone 5 sometime in the next two weeks, with the device rolling out throughout October.