The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint will indeed be offering the long awaited and heavily rumored iPhone 5, packed with a dual-core A5 processor and supposed Retina Display 4″ screen powered by iOS5.
Sprint blamed a Q2 contract decline on “competitive head winds,” most prominently, “the first full quarter both major competitors offered the iPhone.” This would certainly help bolster subscribers.
They are also supposedly going to offer the iPhone 4, or perhaps the iPhone 4S rumored to be a lower-end upgrade to the iPhone 4. Our article earlier this morning outlined the fact that iPhone 4 and 3GS are still outselling Android and WP7 devices, so this is sure to be a hit for Sprint and they will certainly get more traffic in their stores.
Verizon has sold 4.5 million Apple devices this year, whereas AT&T has sold 7.2. Sprint offering the iPhone 4, the iPhone 5, and the Samsung Galaxy S2 along with already released Evo3D would be quite the offering for current subscribers looking to upgrade and new customers hoping to escape the higher prices of Verizon and AT&T.
All rumors seem to point to a September announcement with October release of the iPhone 5 in two, three, or all four US carriers. This may also work against Windows Phone 7 sales as it will coincide with the release of Mango on the Arrive. Only time will tell.
You getting one?
UPDATE: MacTrast is now reporting that they have an anonymous T-Mobile source who claims the iPhone 5 will indeed be coming to to T-Mobile as well. The source went on to say
“We expect the addition of the iPhone, and the iPhone 5′s ability to run on our 3G network to make a significant financial difference for T-Mobile.“
As you know, most current iPhones on AT&T’s network can run on T-Mobile if jailbroken and unlocked, but only get Edge speeds. Earlier this year T-Mobile stated that they had an estimated one million iPhones on their network, and I personally have had very good iPhone customer support from T-Mobile, including them giving me proper APN settings and telling me to download Cydia apps that would help with my data connection.
An iPhone 5 on ALL networks could reclaim iOS taking over mobile market share, currently lead by Android with 52%.
You getting one?
© 2011, orangekid. All rights reserved.
good news for customers. I’ll wait for evo 4d
I have 22 months left in my contract.
This is actually BAD news for customers. AT&T only survived as a company for years because of exclusive rights to the iPhone. Then they said “Oh, well iPhone users use a lot of data, so we’re discontinuing unlimited data.” Then Verizon got the iPhone. Now Verizon discontinues unlimited data.
Now sprint is getting the iPhone…..
…..
Can’t this thing just die already???
The sick thing about it is: Android phone users use MORE data then iPhone users, BUT because iPhone has this (false) stigma in mainstream Americas mind as being “the first smartphone”, it HAS to be the blame of all the data hogs. So when these corporate types, who all have iPhones, who all make the big decisions, realize they could cut off unlimited data and make MORE money off these iPhones, they immediately do it.
I was going to go to sprint when my contract ran out in 2 years, but now what? By then, unlimited data will be gone, they’ll still have the 30 dollar smartphone fee, with tiered data prices, and T-Mobile will be gobbled up by AT&T.
Unlimited data is good for customers, and good for companies. I think when I have to choose a tier, i’m just going to choose the lowest possible one, and not even use data. Maybe I’ll go back to a feature phone. $%@$ it all.
@Lost My Mind, Pay the ETF and switch now!
=Þ
I’m stuck until November 2012. Looks like I’ll have to wait and see if it really is worth the jump away from the EVO.
oh great who needs this? more people to even further strain the sprint towers.
@eric12341, not so much as straining towers but the unwanted bs that follows
Man, I too hope that this is not something that will F&@# up our data-plans… I swear if this kills my UNLIMITED DATA (which TRULY IS unlimited)… Imma go balistik!!! jejeje
Seriously though… Im not a fan of apple products but, at least SPRINT is not staying behind the times… And is offering more and more phones… Weather they are good options or not, that is for the end-user to decide…
I still want a new WP7 Mango device so SPRINT… if you are going to offer this soon, please offer me a Mango Device SOONER!!! jejeje
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….>.>
@gTen,
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!
@gTen, i second that motion ..
@rrjskj, meant emotion my bad
Yes!
stupid apple and their stupid apple logo with a bite taken out of it.
God! i hate the GD ipnone
People will like it… Sprint will like it..
Sprint was first to talk about “bucket data plans”, so if it happens, I won’t be surpised in the least… that would screw me personally, data user of 100+gbs/month… but I’m ditching 2lines over the new admin fee/tos loop hole… and soon as I move Im getting real internet and will cut 1 more line… so in the end tiered data won’t bother me…
I do see network crashes in sprint future with iPhone users… networks can only handle a 10% +/- workload at any given time without completely failing… iPhone will push this continually for sprint….
Last, Sprite iPhone – one step closer to iPhone being flashed on Metro and boost((if not already brig done).. and iPhones in hoards on either of those,they’d crash for sure…
@boredandtattooed, there’s already network crashes ,especially in my hometown in the far north suburbs of Chicago there’s like dialup quality speeds. and even where im at on vacation (metro east region of IL) there’s minor capacity issues but that might be due to the towers here being more spread out.
well i agree the iphone coming to sprint means bye bye unlimited data!!!! that will suck for us who love sprint just for that!!! to be honest im only with sprint because of the all you can eat data!!!! but hey good things come to an end and i guess this is it for sprint!!!!!!!
I have an idea…….lets not make Sprint believe they will need to kill our unlimited data before this Iphone nonsense even starts…….
as we all KNOW SPRINT always sets the BAR HIGHER so as far as we know they may keep the UNLIMITED DATA PLANS but up the data fee a bit I mean THINK ABOUT IT
AT&T iphones no longer unlimited has brought sprint more customer
VERiZON iphone Tiered DATA PLANS (iphone on a leash) has brought sprint more customers
so…SPRINT STAYING UNLIMITED EQUALS WaY MORE CUSTOMERS AND MUCH MORE PROFIT
Good to hear it’s actually coming. When I was having the issues with my TP2, the guys were telling me in teh Sprint store that there were going to be some significant changes coming in the phone market for them. They mentioned the talk about the iPHONE at their last corporate meeting. That was about a month or two ago.
LOL…Typically when I go to a Sprint store (which I try not to do very often) I know more than they do about what’s on the horizon and even about their current phones!! I know there are smart people working in some stores somewhere, but I won’t rely on them for current or accurate information.
As for Sprint getting the iPhone, it was inevitable…AT&T, then Verizon…Apple may be a despised by a lot of techy people but they are a machine and they usually bring sold products to the market with fixed margins so of course everyone want’s to sell them.
People are probably right this will hurt our unlimited data plans (which in my market place is only 4G…3G has limits, they fail to mention that on their tv ads) but this move will help to line Sprints coffers so hopefully they will be more innovative when it comes to new cell technology.
My personal feelings are; they iPhone is a great phone…for the right people. For example, I work in the IT field and deal with phones everyday so when my boss (technology declined user) came to me and said “I am due for an upgrade what phone should I get?” the answer was easy…”an Iphone”. As much as I love my Android phone (my family has 4 of them in our house), I love the flexibility, I love flashing it with new and better roms, I know that he can’t change the toner in his own printer because it is to complicated so he would never use ANY of the more advanced features of a great phone. He is as happy as he can be with the phone, doesn’t understand why the government has declared it a mandatory device for all everyone. Of course when I showed him a 3D picture and video on my phone he asked how can I get that on my iPhone I took great pleasure in saying “you can’t on this phone and Apple will probably never make a 3D version” (I say never because they are slow to adopt new technology in mobile devices…look at how long 4G has been out yet still no 4G model…took time to get a 3G version out too).
Anyway that’s my 2 cents.
I see a lot of you getting upset over network crashes and such.
Sprint needs to expand its network big time. Not getting the iPhone because of all the new subscribers and data usage would be such a poor business move. They need to expand big time and get people psyched about their iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 releases. I know you guys are worried but the truth of the matter is this is a business and the more subscribers the more money you make and you sure as hell better put that money towards expanding your network to keep your customer happy!
Whether or not some of us like the iPhone (you all know I do) this is a great business decision because, as my earlier article points out, the iPhone SELLS.
@orangekid, network crashes are a big deal. I pay $90 a month and the service I get in my hometown is maybe only a little bit better than dialup. right now im holding them to their 9/30 completed upgrade and repair promise. if there isn’t any improvement then I’ll probably goto tmobile and stay there until sprint gets sorted out (they have pretty fast speeds in my area)
@unsane, I agree with you 100%.
@orangekid, I agree with you 100%.
@gTen, I agree with you 100%.
Hahahahaha…. So what is my point?
1. I don’t like the Iphone.
2. This may be an excuse for Sprint to limit their data plans.
3. However, lets not hand feed them the idea and instead reject the notion as of now. Besides Sprint officially stated on their website that they will not limit data plans that is why they raised their calling/data plans (as stated in their website).
4. This is a business decision but we can hand feed them the fact that other wireless companies are losing customers for bad business decisions and that Sprint is no exception.
5. The Iphone will bring in more customers and keep existing customers. If people want to continue the band wagon ride so let them. We know Android is better.
6. This decision, I believe, is based on a two things. A) customer demand. B) as “orangekid” said “revenue”.
With more income Sprint will no longer have an excuse to not fix their network. With all that is coming or supposedly coming this very year Sprint truly will have lots to offer and is maybe going to satisfy their clients. I for one have serious problems with Sprint but am willing to ride out my contract to see if they will follow thru on their offers/promises/intentions.
I invite you all to catch up on these articles if you have not read them. They are a bit outdated but you can find more recent events if you like. The point is, Sprint is making bold moves.
http://www.ppcgeeks.com/2011/08/04/clearwire-adding-120mbps-lte-advanced-to-its-holdings/
http://phandroid.com/2011/07/28/sprint-lightsquared-formally-announce-15-year-4g-lte-deal-but-jury-still-out-on-sprint-lte/
http://www.ppcgeeks.com/2011/06/20/sprint-and-lightsquared-join-forces/
So I told the wife about this, this morning and she’s wondering if they’ll also sell the iPad. She really wants one for school with the wireless mobility option. She was considering getting an Arrive like mine around the end of the year but may go iPhone instead. She really wants something to play Angry Birds on.
@JohnMcD348, iPad3 rumored for Q1 2012, might be on Sprint, no word yet though. An iPhone 5 might be what she wants if she doesn’t want a hardware keyboard.
@JohnMcD348, AngryBirds is available on WP7…
@GoodThings2Life,
Very aware of that. She uses a Palm Pre or some other Palm phone right now when we upgraded a couple years ago. I just got my Arrive last month and loaded Angry Birds and Plants and Zombies. BIG MISTAKE….
I’m hardly allowed to have my phone when I get home every day and they nearly fight over it to see who gets it. She’s 42, he’s 7.
@JohnMcD348, They being my wife and son.
@JohnMcD348, pretty sure you can play Angry birds on WebOs…
First of all, stop calling it the damn Iphone. It’s iPhone… which is totally stupid and inappropriate… just like the device and company that makes it.
Second, it’s inevitable to come to Sprint and T-Mobile. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.
Third, I agree with orangekid that it will bring subscribers to Sprint, probably, but not in the droves that people may expect. Quite frankly it did very little to improve Verizon’s numbers.
Fourth, MacRumors is simply WRONG and fudging the facts. Apple might be selling more iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4′s combined than any single Android phone (maybe… are you really going to believe MacRumors?) but, Android is (according to every major market report) more than double the usage share overall of the entire iPhone platform (46% over 22%) with Blackberry still (barely) in double digits at 11% and everything else below that.
Fifth, Android vs. Apple in terms of data usage is probably pretty comparable, so STFU about slow 3G speeds in your area, and crying about slow 4G speeds and turn on your friggen Wi-Fi already! If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi for a bit, here’s an idea… put the phone away and talk to the people around you instead.
Finally, even AT&T hasn’t really “crashed” from the load of smartphone users. Neither has Sprint, and we’ve got several great smartphones, so relax. It really doesn’t matter if we like the iPhone… it’s coming anyway. Vote with your dollars and buy something else. Like the HTC EVO 3D or the HTC Arrive.
@GoodThings2Life,
1) that stupid and inappropriate company is now the most valuable company on the planet, so I certainly wouldn’t mind being that stupid.
2) They had an exclusive contract with ATT, that’s why it didn’t happen sooner.
3) 4.5 million since February is pretty good.
4) iPhone 4 sold more than any single device, not single OS. There is only one iPhone 4, there are billions of Android devices. iPhone 3GS, by itself, also sold more than any other single device except the iPhone 4. This has been reported by many other sites, MacRumors was just reposting it, which is where I saw it. Android has more market share than iOS, but Apple is the number one OEM. They sell more phones than any other mobile company. There is only one iOS OEM, there are billions of Android OEMs, so of course it has more market share…
5) What?
Finally, Evo3D and Arrive are excellent choices, but so is the iPhone 5. It comes down to personal preference based on ones needs
@orangekid,
1) Meh, that’s only on account of villainy (and human stupidity)!
2) I meant when it came to Verizon, I was surprised it didn’t happen then, and I was surprised that the iPhone 5 missed its usual June announcement.
3) Not exactly… considering how well they apparently sell according to Apple and MacRumors.
4) As long as it’s clearly clarified as individual devices rather than platform, your original article isn’t quite so clear.
5) Responding to the folks concerned about network crashing and performance.
I’m not saying it’s not a choice. I’m just saying it’s a bad one.
@GoodThings2Life,
Correction on #4 … clarified as individual devices rather than platform devices*.
Simply saying “Android and WP devices” was somewhat ambiguous to me, hence my original comment. That wasn’t meant as a slight against your journalist integrity!
@GoodThings2Life, No worries, I’ll be sure to elucidate more clearly next time
I still don’t see how it’s a bad choice though, but to each his own.
@GoodThings2Life, I agree with u on the other points but I have to disagree on #4. if one is paying for a service they expect it to work the way it was advertised and especially the way it used to work. it gets extremely embarrassing when u try to show someone a YouTube video and it buffers every 10 seconds, or try to stream a smartDJ song and it buffers every 5 seconds. this is NOT supposed to happen with an Ev signal of 3 to 5 bars. if u like paying for mobile dialup then that’s your problem.
@eric12341, I meant #5
hope their new ios got finally got flash player support like android browser or it will be the same crap that all other iPhone
R.I.P. Steve Jobs XD LOL
@GoodThings2Life, jeez you sure seem to have your undies in a bunch…
Yes, as @eric12341, said. When you purchase something you expect to get what you paid for. Sorry, but I think we are all entitled to our opinions and if you are ok with paying $90 for portable dial up speed then great. But the rest of us are NOT ok with that.
If you are ok with paying $90 and not get service coverage in return, great!!! The rest of us are NOT ok with that. We are NOT pleased to result to speaking with whoever is close to us because we don’t have a reliable network to make a darn phone call on. Yes, those around us are pleasant people and so are those who are far far away and we wish to speak to them as well.
Iphone or iPhone who cares.
@orangekid , don’t you agree that GoodThings2Life seems to be an avid defender of the iphone despite his apparent intentions to belittle it? hahahahaha!!!!! Had to get that one out.
I’ll be happy with the Mango update on my HTC Arrive. I’ve already got an iPod Touch 3rd gen, and an iPad original. To me, WP7 is a way better OS, and I’m hoping Microsoft continues to improve upon it. Faster than Android on my EVO 4G, and way better on battery life on either my EVO 4G or my iPod Touch under the current Nodo. Mango will only make it better.
This is definitely a great financial move for sprint but very bad news for us faithful customers who love sprint.
If I had a choice in the matter, I would say NO WAY but it is what it is. Will I get it? No way, I will NOT be an iclone.
You all forget that Sprint made a deal with to get LTE and is trying to buy out WiMax.
That would allow for better data signal (for LTE) anyways but even further back, there was talk and worry that if WiMax gets their spectrum updated to LTE, and that what will happen to the current 4G devices… Blah blah blah. This network updates should be more than sufficient to allow the data hogs happy
the reason why the iPhone causes the unlimited data is NOT because they think is “the first smartphone”, its because apple makes products IDIOT PROOF , think about it, if you are in this site you probably started with a windows mobile device that had a crappy OS and you had to download ROM after ROM to make it work descent and accomplish task that APPLE’s IPHONE does well.. so it does take a “geek” to use an iphone and do a heck of a lot online..this wasnt true until recently with android and wp7
if sprint does throw unlimited data out the window because of iPhone, then i guess i’ll just have to put aside a few bucks each month to buy a phone at full price every two years. im hoping with me doing that, i am grandfathered in and can keep the unlimited data plan. but then again, they may pull the same trick they did earlier this year when they started charging the extra $10 premium data fee for their iconic devices…regardless whether it was a contract renewal or if you bought the phone outright from them or from another person.
Summing up all thus far said, I think this is the picture we are starting to see.
Assuming ATT truly buys TMOBILE and the general population of the new “merger” does NOT agree with the “new” ATT for whatever reason then there MAY BE an exodus. That would theoretically overload the remainder of the wireless providers meaning that “maybe” Sprint may use said event as an excuse to limit data.
On the other hand if the ATT and TMOBILE merger/buyout is acceptable to the general population but some continue to seek an unlimited data plan and ATT wont provide it then since Sprint will be offering the iPhone 5 on an unlimited data plan we MAY see a cross over. Same may happen with Verizon clients. Well atleast for those looking for unlimited data.
What will be the end result? A more balanced distribution of clients among the top 3 wireless providers making, I hope, everyone happy. That would mean no one will have an excuse to NOT PROVIDE unlimited data since they cant cry “overloading”.
Which as either gTEN or GoodThings2Life said at some point, regarding network overloads, is BS.
The issue in the end wont be, i feel, a frenzy for the new iCrap but who offers the best plan for the lowest buck. Remember, atleast in Sprint we will have 4 different OS’s to choose from, a new line of mobile products, unlimited data and for the time being the best price. The latter two being the most attractive.
Didn’t Sprint give Apple 20 Billion dollars to exclusive rights to the iFail 5 though?