Katie Marsal
Sales associates with Sprint have been briefed on the imminent launch of the iPhone 4 on their network, TUAW reported on Tuesday. The associates have reportedly been told that Sprint will offer the iPhone 4 starting next month with standard data plans that include a $10 data smartphone premium not specific to the iPhone.
However, the information relayed by the sales associate also contradicts a report last month from The Wall Street Journal. The associate reportedly said that Sprint will not gain access to Apple's fifth-generation iPhone until 2012, likely in early spring, while the Journal reported in August that Sprint would sell the so-called "iPhone 5" at launch along with AT&T and Verizon in the U.S.
"The associate also suggested that Sprint will carry a 4G iPad, though launch dates and pricing were still unknown," Erica Sadun wrote. "Of course, Sprint already sells 4G access for the iPad via its external mobile 4G WiFi product; maybe that's what the briefing referenced."
Sprint, like Verizon, would require a CDMA version of the iPhone. Apple debuted a CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 this February, where it has been the top-selling smartphone ever since.
Currently in the U.S. the iPhone 4 is only available through AT&T, where it launched last June, and Verizon. Sprint is the third-largest carrier in the U.S., but without the iPhone, the company has struggled to compete with AT&T and Verizon.
The last of the "big four" carriers in the U.S. is T-Mobile, which AT&T hopes to acquire for $39 billion. But AT&T faces an uphill battle for regulatory approval, as the U.S. government has filed an antitrust suit to block the deal, saying it would hurt competition in the American wireless industry. Sprint has also opposed the deal with its own lawsuit.
Andrew Orr
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Appleinsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
53 Comments
Sprint will carry a 4G iPad.
Yeah. Right. A WiMAX iPad. That's rich.
Not a credible rumor.
The last people to get specifics about the iPhone launch would be sales associates at a mobile operator's retail operation. Apple knows that retail line employees have the worst discipline in keeping confidential matters to themselves. Apple doesn't tell its own retail line employees until the last minute, they certainly the heck aren't giving their channel partners the opportunity to spill the beans weeks in advance.
Sprint retail sales associates will be given the details hours before their store opens.
I do believe they were briefed. But why just about the 4? Simple, because there is no official 4s or 5 yet. This just looks as though Apple will finally be discontinuing the 3GS and substituting the 4 at the low end. After Apple announces the new model, Sprint and other companies will be able to tell their employees what to expect.
This is called gorilla dust. The shysters in WS are trying to maximize their profits before the impending release. No one lnows when, but it is expected fairly soon.
They need to bring the stock down and give their call writers some leeway. I hope they get caught with their pants down. But then again apple has no kill instinct. they probably will not rain on MSFT parade this week. No matter how much the apple is insulted and spat on.
I do believe they were briefed. But why just about the 4? Simple, because there is no official 4s or 5 yet. This just looks as though Apple will finally be discontinuing the 3GS and substituting the 4 at the low end. After Apple announces the new model, Sprint and other companies will be able to tell their employees what to expect.
I agree with this reasoning - this is a low-level guy who doesn't know squat, and they reason they were briefed on the iP4 is that's all that's out yet.
I will say that if Sprint *doesn't* get the iP5 next month, it's likely I'll be one of many jumping ship. I've waiting a long time for Sprint to get the iPhone, but with my contract up and my frustration with my BB running high, I just don't have any interest or incentive to wait another 4 or 5 months for the iP5 to maybe finally eventually come to Sprint.