A former marketing manager for Apple is speaking out about the recent tablet rumors/leak.

The Mac Observer's John Martellaro, a former senior marketing manager, reports on how these controlled leaks are orchestrated. According to his post, these sorts of leaks are handed down from senior Apple executives who will ask employees to contact major news outlets.

"The communication is always done in person or on the phone. Never via e-mail. That's so that if there's ever any dispute about what transpired, there's no paper trail to contradict either party's version of the story," Martellaro says.

According to the post, this controlled leak could be to:

- To light a fire under a recalcitrant partner

- To float the idea of the US$1,000 price point and gauge reaction

- To panic/confuse a potential competitor about whom Apple had some knowledge

- To whet analyst and observer expectations to make sure the right kind and number of people show up at the (presumed) January 26 event. Apple hates empty seats and demands SRO at these events.

You can read the full article on The Mac Observer.

via AppleInsider