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Sprint Commits to Buying $20 Billion Worth of iPhones, To Get Redesigned iPhone 5 Exclusively?
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No you don't. I can attest to good customer service, I haven't has a problem with that in years, The network is fine (Where I live in the North East) and 4G is getting better all the time. I live in a suburb and I have 4G.
Except the ATT debacle ended up getting a LOT of people on ATT despite their terrible track record of customer service, premium price and spotty coverage. It was an incredible win for ATT.
Was talking to a friend of mine that works at Verizon. I work at AT&T myself. While neither of us believed this rumor, we did agree that if it was true and Sprint get exclusivity 'ahead of us, every customer that wants to upgrade is getting a Nexus Prime or a Galaxy S II shoved in their faces from us. We both have been turning away people since this summer who have been looking to upgrade to Android devices from their iPhones or various other phones. Mainly because we both figured they would end up happier with the iPhone overall if the rumored redesigned 5 was true. But if it turns out we have to wait even longer just because they gave exclusivity to a new carrier over two other ones that actively promoted their devices and championed them....well forget that. My commission check is more important than Apple playing favorites again, and I suspect a lot of other salespeople will feel that way as well.
We also don't get why T-Mobile is being left out of the fun. I feel bad for my friends I have working there....They really were banking on getting it this year. Plus if the whole capable of speeds of 21 HSPA+ being enabled on the next iPhone true, they might have started giving us a run for our money. Some may debate the whole calling it 4G thing, but I was extremely impressed with the speeds I got on my mobile hotpot from T-Mo when I had it.
We also don't get why T-Mobile is being left out of the fun. I feel bad for my friends I have working there....They really were banking on getting it this year. Plus if the whole capable of speeds of 21 HSPA+ being enabled on the next iPhone true, they might have started giving us a run for our money. Some may debate the whole calling it 4G thing, but I was extremely impressed with the speeds I got on my mobile hotpot from T-Mo when I had it.
And where would Apple be giving away 18 million iPhones? You said yourself, 1.9 million. That's a fraction of 19 million
They won't. Apple will sell enough 3GS's, lower-cost 4's, and high performance 4S's to more than cover that 90%. (Even the ancient 3GS is still outselling every individual Android or BB model. Old models sell. Very well.) If this rumor is true, Sprint will get something else that no other carrier can use because no one else has a compatible protocol to wimax... or even good enough chips in volume production to allow offering anything competitive this year.
I've been with AT&T since they were PacBell Wireless. I count as loyal... right?
Sprint probably paid the exclusive to have Apple include WiMax tech. That's the only thing that makes sense.
Sure Sprint is willing to bet the farm on the iPhone, but Apple wouldn't go all in with an exclusive for Sprint.
Same design for all carriers, Sprint gets an "exclusive" WiMax version.
Sure Sprint is willing to bet the farm on the iPhone, but Apple wouldn't go all in with an exclusive for Sprint.
Same design for all carriers, Sprint gets an "exclusive" WiMax version.
Apple is having over 6-8 million current iPhone 4 phones produced on a monthly basis.
With added capacity from other contracts, having Sprint invest such a claim, over 4 years, will not give them exclusivity.
With added capacity from other contracts, having Sprint invest such a claim, over 4 years, will not give them exclusivity.
They sold 20 million phones last quarter. Okay, Sprint sells 1.9 million of these "exclusive" handsets and okay, Apple's other carriers would pick up some of the slack by selling up an older model, but they aren't going to make up that missing 18.1 million. Perhaps my scenario was a little too simplistic.
In any case, this is just silliness.
For Sprint to get exclusivity, they would need to guarantee any potential loss from revenue decreases in other markets. They don't have the resources. Apple probably made $14 billion in handset revenue last quarter.
Good point. I think that makes sense more than Apple simply selling iPhone 5 rollout exclusivity to Sprint.
Really hope this is true. I'm on ATT prepaid with my 3GS. The girlfriend is on a 3-year old feature phone on Sprint. I love the iphone, but hate ATT's service. The girlfriend loves Sprint but wants to jump into the smart phone arena. We both want to get a family plan with Sprint. The 4S would be an enormous upgrade for both of us but a 5 would obviously be better.
I was just afraid that the'd say that everyone was getting the 5, except Sprint, the second tier carrier, would get the 4S. If Sprint actually comes out with the superior phone, then that would be an incredible coup for a company that has lagged behind in phone availability. Phones drive cell sales more than service. Its sad but true and if you cant secure 2-3 of the best phones on the market, then you are going to see a loss in market share. ATT is easily the worst of the four primary carriers in the US and yet they make up an enormous amount of customers simply because they have the latest iphone now and they had the only iphone for a long time.
I personally think that this will be a timed exclusive more than a true exclusive. I'd bet money that if ATT/Verizon get the 4S in 2 weeks and Sprint gets the 5 in Feb/March, that ATT/Verizon will get the 5 or a 5.5 phone in July or August.
I was just afraid that the'd say that everyone was getting the 5, except Sprint, the second tier carrier, would get the 4S. If Sprint actually comes out with the superior phone, then that would be an incredible coup for a company that has lagged behind in phone availability. Phones drive cell sales more than service. Its sad but true and if you cant secure 2-3 of the best phones on the market, then you are going to see a loss in market share. ATT is easily the worst of the four primary carriers in the US and yet they make up an enormous amount of customers simply because they have the latest iphone now and they had the only iphone for a long time.
I personally think that this will be a timed exclusive more than a true exclusive. I'd bet money that if ATT/Verizon get the 4S in 2 weeks and Sprint gets the 5 in Feb/March, that ATT/Verizon will get the 5 or a 5.5 phone in July or August.
As i read it, 20 bn is "total dedication" including subsidies (amounting to 15bn). Handing out a whopping 35 bn for 30 mn devices would mean that they - through this deal - would need to rake in 1k extra per sold device, which, quite frankly, does not make sense... i mean, lets for fun assume their profit margin is 33%. raking in 1k extra would then mean an additional 3k in revenue. Where would they get that from, while simultaneously selling 30mn devices?
Doesnt add up.
5bn seems more feasible. 500 usd subs. still sound silly though for a Swede.
Come on guys... just a few more hours.
It gets better every moment!! I'm so wishing voyeurism was legal so I can peak into the lives of the MUST and NEED camp of people on this thread. It's a freakin PHONE... wtf do you really do that you NEED a phone with this or that feature? Especially since the iphone 4 is fully compatible with ever app available with a beautiful screen. Do you spend that much time on your phone that you NEED a larger screen? Hell just get an iPad already... people are funny on this thread. Your leaving ATT? That's the hilarious part... I'm leaving a carrier because the PHONE MANUFACTURER IS GIVING THEIR PRODUCT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU GUYS HAVE A FEW HOURS LEFT... speculation is one thing but standing on the bank and looking at the way this river is flowing is crazy! I'm on iPhone 4, running iOS 5 beta 7 and it runs as smooth as a glacier... really, for those that haven't toyed with it yet YOU GUYS WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW WELL THE NEW OS IS. I'm trying to actually make myself want a new phone but I really can't fathom why yet when what I have is more than powerful only limited by the carrier. Why do I want or need a phone that can get hypothetical speeds when my carrier doesn't allow it... even throttling back it's unlimited customer? I want one so I can then demand my carrier to get with the program?? That's like (another automobile analogy... why do we always equate everything to cars) everybody demanding that the govt up the speeds on the highways because are vehicles are able to go over 100mph.
It gets better every moment!! I'm so wishing voyeurism was legal so I can peak into the lives of the MUST and NEED camp of people on this thread. It's a freakin PHONE... wtf do you really do that you NEED a phone with this or that feature? Especially since the iphone 4 is fully compatible with ever app available with a beautiful screen. Do you spend that much time on your phone that you NEED a larger screen? Hell just get an iPad already... people are funny on this thread. Your leaving ATT? That's the hilarious part... I'm leaving a carrier because the PHONE MANUFACTURER IS GIVING THEIR PRODUCT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU GUYS HAVE A FEW HOURS LEFT... speculation is one thing but standing on the bank and looking at the way this river is flowing is crazy! I'm on iPhone 4, running iOS 5 beta 7 and it runs as smooth as a glacier... really, for those that haven't toyed with it yet YOU GUYS WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW WELL THE NEW OS IS. I'm trying to actually make myself want a new phone but I really can't fathom why yet when what I have is more than powerful only limited by the carrier. Why do I want or need a phone that can get hypothetical speeds when my carrier doesn't allow it... even throttling back it's unlimited customer? I want one so I can then demand my carrier to get with the program?? That's like (another automobile analogy... why do we always equate everything to cars) everybody demanding that the govt up the speeds on the highways because are vehicles are able to go over 100mph.
Nah, Apple isn't going to buy a mobile operator. They consider cellular companies to be dumb pipes.
Besides, Sprint is losing money and has something like $18 billion in debt. I think Apple's major shareholders would frown at the acquisition of something that doesn't really increase shareholder value that much.
Not happening. Apple sold 20 million last quarter. How would 30 million over 4 years give them a chubby? Not to mention that Sprint, no matter how reliable with other phones, is an untested network for the iPhone. Apple risk alienating millions of existing customers giving exclusive rights to a new carrier for a mere 1 1/2 quarters worth of phones over several years? Never.
As you say, for Sprint to front the other 18 million would indeed be preposterous. But you're not factoring in the currently rumored 4, 4S, and 3GS. For sake of argument, lets ignore the first and third. The rest of the world still gets a GSM/CDMA iPhone 4S. Those wouldn't count against Sprint in terms of lost revenue because it's incoming revenue.
Further, it's not like Sprint is getting permanent exclusivity, it'd be until Q1. It's not as big a disaster as you're leading it to be.
Would Apple really partner with a sinking ship (i.e. Sprint) and risk the negative press if Sprint goes under (which they could very well do as they are spending $$$$$ for exclusivity)?
Maybe they would, but something tells me Apple doesn't want to partner with a near last-place carrier.... even for some $$$.
Apple by staying with Verizon and AT&T would make $$$ just from people upgrading. Is Sprint going to more than cover the $$ that apple will lose from AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5 sales?
Maybe they would, but something tells me Apple doesn't want to partner with a near last-place carrier.... even for some $$$.
Apple by staying with Verizon and AT&T would make $$$ just from people upgrading. Is Sprint going to more than cover the $$ that apple will lose from AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5 sales?
WiMAX in Japan
Here's some more fuel for the fire:
For a couple of weeks, there have been rumors that au/KDDI will begin offering the iPhone in Japan, thereby breaking Softbank's iPhone exclusivity.
It just so happens that au/KDDI is a leading WiMAX provider.
Here's some more fuel for the fire:
For a couple of weeks, there have been rumors that au/KDDI will begin offering the iPhone in Japan, thereby breaking Softbank's iPhone exclusivity.
It just so happens that au/KDDI is a leading WiMAX provider.