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Sprint Commits to Buying $20 Billion Worth of iPhones, To Get Redesigned iPhone 5 Exclusively?
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If it's true, and I can't see any Fortune500 company playing Russian roulette, it would be awesome of Sprint. I wouldn't dump Verizon for them, but I'd admire the gamble they took. Committing $1billion is huge, $20 is just madness... And I love it. 😎
Also, if this were true, I'd just buy a used Verizon iP4 and use it until the 5 is released.
The announcement cannot get here soon enough.
Also, if this were true, I'd just buy a used Verizon iP4 and use it until the 5 is released.
The announcement cannot get here soon enough.
ddeadserious
macrumors 6502a
In other news, Cricket is offering Apple $2 trillion for iPhone 6 exclusivity... 🙂
I can't imagine the looks of the AT&T/Verizon execs reading the Sprint deal. They are either laughing their heads off or are scared sh*tless.
I can't imagine the looks of the AT&T/Verizon execs reading the Sprint deal. They are either laughing their heads off or are scared sh*tless.
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I don't think Apple would do this. I can see Apple asking Sprint to commit in order to accommodate their WiMax requirement, otherwise they probably would never add WiMax to the iPhone. So a $20 billion of guaranteed sales sounds reasonable for such thing. But would this $20 billion be enough to piss AT&T off? No. Apple would be crazy to enter an exclusive deal like this.
I don't think Apple would do this. I can see Apple asking Sprint to commit in order to accommodate their WiMax requirement, otherwise they probably would never add WiMax to the iPhone. So a $20 billion of guaranteed sales sounds reasonable for such thing. But would this $20 billion be enough to piss AT&T off? No. Apple would be crazy to enter an exclusive deal like this.
HELLO!! I WILL POST IT AGAIN
Actually this could work out really well for Apple and if WSJ reports it then it has credibility. Here is the scenario!:
Apple gets guaranteed sales for the next 2-4 years from sprint. Sprint gets iphone 5 exclusive for 3-5 months then 2012 all carriers get iphone 5 along with the iphone 4s that will be released next week. I would give some company this small window of exclusiveness for 3+ years of guarnateed sales!
ATT and verizon and everyone else can get the phone in Jan 2012. They would not be losing any sales u would just have to wait a few more months if you want it on your carrier.
Actually this could work out really well for Apple and if WSJ reports it then it has credibility. Here is the scenario!:
Apple gets guaranteed sales for the next 2-4 years from sprint. Sprint gets iphone 5 exclusive for 3-5 months then 2012 all carriers get iphone 5 along with the iphone 4s that will be released next week. I would give some company this small window of exclusiveness for 3+ years of guarnateed sales!
ATT and verizon and everyone else can get the phone in Jan 2012. They would not be losing any sales u would just have to wait a few more months if you want it on your carrier.
saab9573
macrumors 6502
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iPhone 4S, the "S" stands for Sprint.
iPhone 4S, the "S" stands for Sprint.
LMAO! Well they figured if they can't have it they can sell its accessories lol. Good one though!
Apple did the exclusivity mistake in 2007, no way they would do it again. But like I said, maybe it will be fasted on sprint?
Better buy 2 iPhones....one for Data and one for Voice. Sprint's CDMA does not support both at the same time.
Hmmm....maybe Sprint plans on selling 2 iPhones to all their customers and this is how they plan to sell 30 million units.
🙂
Shenanigans
No way is this plausible or close to true. Apple got burned by an exclusive deal and I doubt very seriously they would be dumb enough to do it again. I call shenanigans on this "incredibly solid" source. I may be wrong, but I give this rumor a less than 1% chance of being credible based on Apple's past deals with cell carrier exclusive deals.
No way is this plausible or close to true. Apple got burned by an exclusive deal and I doubt very seriously they would be dumb enough to do it again. I call shenanigans on this "incredibly solid" source. I may be wrong, but I give this rumor a less than 1% chance of being credible based on Apple's past deals with cell carrier exclusive deals.
CrAkD
macrumors 68040
Consider:
ATT had the iPhone 4 before Verizon.
Most individual plans who are on a 2 year upgrade path on ATT isn't due for a subsidized phone until June 2012 since the iPhone 4 came out in June of 2010. Maybe December(ish) if on an 18 month cycle.
There's no reason why Sprint couldn't have locked in an exclusive to bridge that gap to KEEP their own subscribers and maybe tempt as many people away who JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE LATEST over to their network.
ATT had the iPhone 4 before Verizon.
Most individual plans who are on a 2 year upgrade path on ATT isn't due for a subsidized phone until June 2012 since the iPhone 4 came out in June of 2010. Maybe December(ish) if on an 18 month cycle.
There's no reason why Sprint couldn't have locked in an exclusive to bridge that gap to KEEP their own subscribers and maybe tempt as many people away who JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE LATEST over to their network.
Frankied22
macrumors 68000
It's more like Sprint is proposing $20 billion in revenue over the next 4 years for Apple if they let Sprint carry the iPhone alongside of AT&T and Verizon; and I am sure paying some amount of money upfront to Apple. Sprint bowed down to Apple and went "please Apple? pprrreeeetttyy pleeasseee?" Sprint getting exclusivity of an iPhone 5? That's a complete joke, considering Sprint doesn't even carry the phone right now.
I don't think they would lose "that many sales". Look at comment #18.. Here is someone that doesn't like the prices AT&T charges nor the contributions to political leadership that is goes against his philosophy.
But he still has an iPhone with them. Apple's brand loyalty and perhaps an ETF apparently trumps good financial decisions and our political future.
Apple's throng of supporters will follow the iPhones no matter what, and they know that. If they can get onto a new carrier and take a huge cash bribe from Sprint in the process, why wouldn't they? They have the financial and good will capital to pull this off even if it is unpopular.
People have short memories. There will be outrage today, and long lines at the Sprint store tomorrow. Apple is a machine, and is as loyal to its customers as is required to keep the wallets open.
This, of course, is dependent on a pretty fantastic rumor being true, which it may very well not be...
sooo in actuality sprint has sold themselves to apple?? So apple is now in the carrier business...lol
If this is true then it's an indication of desperation on the part of both Sprint and Apple. It's clear why Sprint might be desperate but Apple? Have they given up competing with Android?
wordoflife
macrumors 604
let use some common sense.
This won't happen
B freaking S
Apple many carriers outside of the US where the market is much larger (assuming the Iphone 5 is CDMA only)
This won't happen
B freaking S
Apple many carriers outside of the US where the market is much larger (assuming the Iphone 5 is CDMA only)
I guess it would be
iPhone 5 - Sprint exclusivity in the US over the holiday period, possibly a 4G device. The problem Apple may be facing is that US carriers call all sorts of things 4G, on ATT is HSPA+ and LTE, on Sprint its WiMax (or LTE), on Verizon its purely LTE. In this scenario ATT and Sprint would market the iP5 as "4G", while Verizon could not, unless it supports LTE.
The iPhone 5 would likely launch in the rest of the world as a HSPA+ GSM device. Although there may be exclusives on the device, or colour variants by market. e.g. 3-UK often has exclusives on white handsets.
iPhone 4S - brings many of the features of iOS5 to the iPhone4 form factor. Available as a "world mode" phone, GSM and CDMA. Freely available on carrier of choice.
iPhone 4 8GB
iPhone 5 - Sprint exclusivity in the US over the holiday period, possibly a 4G device. The problem Apple may be facing is that US carriers call all sorts of things 4G, on ATT is HSPA+ and LTE, on Sprint its WiMax (or LTE), on Verizon its purely LTE. In this scenario ATT and Sprint would market the iP5 as "4G", while Verizon could not, unless it supports LTE.
The iPhone 5 would likely launch in the rest of the world as a HSPA+ GSM device. Although there may be exclusives on the device, or colour variants by market. e.g. 3-UK often has exclusives on white handsets.
iPhone 4S - brings many of the features of iOS5 to the iPhone4 form factor. Available as a "world mode" phone, GSM and CDMA. Freely available on carrier of choice.
iPhone 4 8GB
