Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I just don't see this happening. Apple expanded to Verizon to make more money obviously. Why would they make sprint their exclusive iPhone 5 carrier. Sprint uses Verizon towers for almost half of their 3G either way. Sprint is also working on a new LTE network so WIMAX isn't a very logical thing to put into an iPhone right now.
LTE on Sprint is 2 years out, WiMax is now. It won't be an exclusive with Sprint for monetary reasons, Apple just signed Sprint up because Sprint was willing to commit enough cash to make producing a WiMax model worthwhile for Apple. Once again, the only reason the iPhone 5 would be on Sprint first is because Apple is waiting for a suitable low-power LTE chip.
 
Last edited:
Wow. I'm late to the party but let me just say, I really hope this isn't true. I really hope Apple wouldn't screw their customer base by only providing the latest and greatest to Sprint.
 
Why do you keep insisting that I said this? I never said it and it wouldn't make any sense to say that. :confused:



Apparently, you just don't understand their naming convention up to this point. I'm not going to try to break it down for you anymore.

I guess you don't have the luxury of putting him in ignore, too bad. In any case, from what I can gather from the quotes, he clearly understands the naming and is just trolling for trolling sake...
 
"S" for Sprint

All this talk about the iPhone 4S... the "S" is for Sprint!!

WSJ has it backwards I think. The iPhone 5 is for ATT and Verizon, 4S for Sprint.
 
Apple to purchase Sprint?

With all the talk of exclusive iPhone 5 for sprint... the only way this makes sense is if Apple is going to buy Sprint. And that is not going to happen IMO.
 
I don't understand how and why some of you seem to think that a Sprint exclusive short term contract isn't possible?

Apple doesn't care what carrier you're on and which one you buy it from. Apple also despite what most of you seem to think, doesn't sell it's phones directly to consumers for the most part. Yes you can buy it from the Apple store but unless you buy contract free, most of the phone is purchased by the carrier you are signing with. Your bill would easily be halved if people actually paid retail for the phone.

Apple simply will sell to WHOMEVER buys the most. Long term doesn't matter because Apple owns the market and three to six months exclusivity is nothing. This is all assuming that a LTE chipset is currently available. Apple making this deal makes sense especially if an LTE chipset is 6 months out anyway.

There seems to be a portion of the rumor that people are missing. That is that the Sprint would be purchasing the phones themselves. This is money Apple wouldn't have to wait for from consumer sales.

Apple wouldn't make this move assuming the customers would switch carriers. I would expect the average rational (someone who wouldn't be posting on a rumor mill web site) would simply wait for the version on the carrier they already have. Considering an average two year upgrade timeframe, most iP4 users if any wouldn't even be eligible for an upgrade on their current carrier.

Lastly the US isn't the whole Earth. Americans always assume they are the center of the universe. To say that this move makes no sense because this company uses this technology and this company uses that is nonsense because most of the world uses different frequencies and technologies than the US and they sell the iPhone everywhere.
 
You're completely misrepresenting the link you posted:


The Wall Street Journal confirms the widely-held belief that the iPhone 4S/5 set to be introduced later tonight will not support the fastest current data networks built on LTE and WiMax technology. The news is not much of a surprise, but such last-minute reports by mainstream news outlets such as the Journal are frequently thought to be controlled leaks by Apple to help frame expectations for its upcoming announcements.

According to people familiar with the company’s plans, the hotly anticipated device won’t operate on long-term evolution or WiMAX fourth-generation networks. Those wireless networks promise speedier downloading to mobile devices of episodes of television programs, as well as cute baby photos.

The people said the device will work on 3G networks, which are broadly in use today and are the standard for the current iPhone 4. AT&T says its HSPA+ network has 4G-like speeds.
The specific mention of a lack of WiMAX compatibility would seem to put a significant damper on yesterday's highly questionable rumor that a redesigned iPhone 5 could in fact debut today as a WiMAX-capable device exclusive to Sprint until an LTE version comes out next year.

----------

Same reason people were going to buy the 4S tomorrow before anything broke about Sprint: off contract and need a new phone, Siri-technology, faster processor, etc.


The Wall Street Journal confirms the widely-held belief that the iPhone 4S/5 set to be introduced later tonight will not support the fastest current data networks built on LTE and WiMax technology. The news is not much of a surprise, but such last-minute reports by mainstream news outlets such as the Journal are frequently thought to be controlled leaks by Apple to help frame expectations for its upcoming announcements.

According to people familiar with the company’s plans, the hotly anticipated device won’t operate on long-term evolution or WiMAX fourth-generation networks. Those wireless networks promise speedier downloading to mobile devices of episodes of television programs, as well as cute baby photos.

The people said the device will work on 3G networks, which are broadly in use today and are the standard for the current iPhone 4. AT&T says its HSPA+ network has 4G-like speeds.
The specific mention of a lack of WiMAX compatibility would seem to put a significant damper on yesterday's highly questionable rumor that a redesigned iPhone 5 could in fact debut today as a WiMAX-capable device exclusive to Sprint until an LTE version comes out next year.

----------

The difference between a WiMAX iP5 and an LTE iP5 would be such a small production difference that you'd never notice unless it was marked for you. We're talking about the carrier chip, not the iPhone hardware.


The Wall Street Journal confirms the widely-held belief that the iPhone 4S/5 set to be introduced later tonight will not support the fastest current data networks built on LTE and WiMax technology. The news is not much of a surprise, but such last-minute reports by mainstream news outlets such as the Journal are frequently thought to be controlled leaks by Apple to help frame expectations for its upcoming announcements.

According to people familiar with the company’s plans, the hotly anticipated device won’t operate on long-term evolution or WiMAX fourth-generation networks. Those wireless networks promise speedier downloading to mobile devices of episodes of television programs, as well as cute baby photos.

The people said the device will work on 3G networks, which are broadly in use today and are the standard for the current iPhone 4. AT&T says its HSPA+ network has 4G-like speeds.
The specific mention of a lack of WiMAX compatibility would seem to put a significant damper on yesterday's highly questionable rumor that a redesigned iPhone 5 could in fact debut today as a WiMAX-capable device exclusive to Sprint until an LTE version comes out next year.

----------

So -- now, connect the dots:

1.) Sprint comes to Apple and asks them to make a 4G WiMAX iPhone 5 for their network. They negotiate, Apple agrees but only after Sprint agrees to pay for the entire operation.

2.) Apple announces iOS5 with a secret lead-feature -- Assistant / Siri voice integration -- that requires the A5 chip.

3.) The LTE / 4G chipsets for Verizon & AT&T can't be made to work to Apple standards in time for the traditional iPhone release in Summer '11.

4.) Apple begins work on an updated iPhone 4S, with A5 chipset, to allow a full-featured release of iOS5 across all carriers.

5.) The WiMAX iP5 is ready for release ahead of schedule from the LTE iP5

6.) Apple announces WiMAX iP5 for Sprint and A-5 enabled iP4S for Verizon and AT&T in October of 2011 -- allowing them to show off their lead feature (Siri) and release iOS5 to all carriers simultaneously.

7.) Sprint gets "exclusive" iP5 for Holiday season 2011

8.) Sometime in 2012, iP5 is released with LTE chips for AT&T and Verizon.




The Wall Street Journal confirms the widely-held belief that the iPhone 4S/5 set to be introduced later tonight will not support the fastest current data networks built on LTE and WiMax technology. The news is not much of a surprise, but such last-minute reports by mainstream news outlets such as the Journal are frequently thought to be controlled leaks by Apple to help frame expectations for its upcoming announcements.

According to people familiar with the company’s plans, the hotly anticipated device won’t operate on long-term evolution or WiMAX fourth-generation networks. Those wireless networks promise speedier downloading to mobile devices of episodes of television programs, as well as cute baby photos.

The people said the device will work on 3G networks, which are broadly in use today and are the standard for the current iPhone 4. AT&T says its HSPA+ network has 4G-like speeds.
The specific mention of a lack of WiMAX compatibility would seem to put a significant damper on yesterday's highly questionable rumor that a redesigned iPhone 5 could in fact debut today as a WiMAX-capable device exclusive to Sprint until an LTE version comes out next year.
 
If Sprint got exclusivity to the i5 I would quit getting any Apple Phone product.

Straight ******** to previous customers.

I'd totally go Android if this happened.

May I recommend the Samsung Galaxy S II? 4G, huge AMOLED screen, 8MP camera, 1080p30 native video capture, AllShare, and the only phone with a quad-core graphics processor for sick gaming action. Only from Sprint ;)
 
You're looking at new pricing. I pay $129 for 2 lines. We have 1500 minutes and unlimited data. I pay an extra $20 for a USB WiFi stick. Tell me that sucks ;)
2 EVO 4G phones on the account.

That's not bad, it would be like $150 on AT&T, but I doubt that's more than $10 less than current Sprint pricing, especially with AnyMobile now negating the need for more than a few minutes.

----------

cdma makes it impossible to talk and look up stuff while your on the line. Unless they found a way then go with sprint but AT&T is still the best in a lot of ways.

I don't know if Sprint uses SVDO, but Verizon has it on a lot of their towers, and with phones like the Thunderbolt (independent of LTE operation) you can talk and surf at the same time on CDMA/EVDO.

In countries where you can buy an iPhone without any contract, the iPhone will cost you the equivalent of $600 to $700. Other high end phones cost you the same, for example a Galaxy S2 at www.o2.co.uk is £450.

I'm not saying what they do sell, I'm saying what they could sell. They make a good margin on a $220 iPod Touch, if they can do that, they can easily do well on a $250 unsubsidized iPhone. They just choose not to because right now, they are getting away with it.
 
All this talk about the iPhone 4S... the "S" is for Sprint!!

That would make absolutely no sense whatsoever ...

When Verizon got the iPhone 4, it was not the 4V - yet, it was different from the AT&T iPhone 4 ...

... so, how on Earth would naming the S for Sprint make any sense?
 
That would make absolutely no sense whatsoever ...

When Verizon got the iPhone 4, it was not the 4V - yet, it was different from the AT&T iPhone 4 ...

... so, how on Earth would naming the S for Sprint make any sense?

It's a code name. it's not the actual name. DUH
 
Then what would the "actual" name be?

still the iPhone4. Apple is just using the 4s to clarify it as the sprint model.

I could be way wrong, but it seemed like a more obvious option than iphone5 exclusive to Sprint.
 
still the iPhone4. Apple is just using the 4s to clarify it as the sprint model.

I could be way wrong, but it seemed like a more obvious option than iphone5 exclusive to Sprint.

So, it would be technically the same as the iPhone4 now ...

And, still Apple didn't designate the Verizon iPhone 4 as the 4V, so ... it would still be known as the CDMA iPhone.
 
still the iPhone4. Apple is just using the 4s to clarify it as the sprint model.

I could be way wrong, but it seemed like a more obvious option than iphone5 exclusive to Sprint.

Apple wouldn't do that... What's the 3GS then? The S as in 3GS and 4S would stand for "speed" as in a hardware upgrade in the same format.

Why is it so unbelievable that Sprint would get an iPhone 5 before anyone else? We aren't talking some prepaid...
 
Confirmed...Sprint fans were right all along.

Sprint is the new EXCLUSIVE carrier of the iPhone 4S "on the Sprint network".

Amazing what a $20B commitment will buy you ;)
 
Confirmed...Sprint fans were right all along.

Sprint is the new EXCLUSIVE carrier of the iPhone 4S "on the Sprint network".

Amazing what a $20B commitment will buy you ;)

Good bet by Sprint. They probably underestimate how many IP4S will be sold.
 
If you do the math, the ~30 million units is like half their customers! That's pretty insane!

To add to the insanity, it is 100% of their contract customers.

Almost 1/2 of Sprint's customers have pre-paid accounts. These customers typically buy the cheapest phones available. Since they either decline to be locked into long term contracts or don't qualify, I can't see them paying full price for an unlocked phone ($600?).
 
To add to the insanity, it is 100% of their contract customers.

Almost 1/2 of Sprint's customers have pre-paid accounts. These customers typically buy the cheapest phones available. Since they either decline to be locked into long term contracts or don't qualify, I can't see them paying full price for an unlocked phone ($600?).

WHAT? That's insane. As it is, a lot of their customers are Android, or don't have smartphones. They also have an even bigger legacy of Android, since they didn't have the iPhone for such a long time. I'm trying to figure out the math on Virgin and Boost customers getting iPhones, but I can't make it work out unless Apple agreed to sell the iPhone at a significantly lower price to Sprint in exchange for the volume of units. The only thing I can think of is Apple is selling Sprint the iPhone 4 CDMA for around $300, and they will sell it on Boost and Virgin for $299. That could sell like hotcakes, if Sprint has the exclusive on a pre-paid iPhone with $35 unlimited data/text or $50 unlimited everything. That would, however, explain the 2.5GB soft cap and $10 increases in plans on VM in preparation for this.

Admittedly, if the contract with Apple goes for 3 years or more, they could have some re-sales on new iPhones, but even that would need 15-20 million iPhone customers. Does AT&T even have that many? Something is not right with the rumors that we're seeing.

Oh, and what would 30 million iPhones do to Sprint's EVDO network? Granted, most of the Android people are on WiMAX, but still, that's a lot of data traffic coming in.
 
Here's my take on it...Apple in not screwing any previous customers with a exclusive deal with Sprint....

1. Remember AT&T signed a exclusive deal with Apple in the beginning to be the Sole carrier!
2. Apple is in the business of making money! It's a business deal. Get over it! Sprint is just doing what any competitor would do. Only time will tell if this is truth and not just rumors. Remember..you singed a contract with your carrier..Not Apple!
3. Every carrier sells phones with android made by the same company..just different versions of it. Think about it.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.