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Sprint Commits to Buying $20 Billion Worth of iPhones, To Get Redesigned iPhone 5 Exclusively?

Although I don't think this could be even the slightest bit right. It would be so dang funny. With the amount of people that have had iPhone after iPhone and now they would basically just slap them in the face and not let them get the latest one without jumping ship to a new carrier.

This would be a very bold move for Apple and a super amazing move by Sprint!

We will all see tomorrow! :cool:
 
djrod said:
So Sprint sells the IPhone 5 and AT&T sells the cases ? :confused:
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That was my first thought.

(disclaimer.... not a wireless expert)
Also, doesn't Sprint use a different frequency for either voice or data (and use it differently than others) or something different entirely that requires a change? If true, that sounds to me like Apple would need to be coerced into making a phone that would function 100% on their network. If Sprint was the largest carrier thats one thing, but being a smaller one is not too much motivation. Only thing I could think of to get that kind of deal going. Exclusivity? No way.
 
Jobs?

Bring back Steve just to announce a speed-bump? iCloud and iOS5 may be cool and all, but aside from us geeks, it's hardware that makes the market.
 
Stoutman11 said:
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.
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It is also interesting (correct me if I'm wrong) that T-Mobile said they wouldn't be getting the iPhone until early 2012.
 
Been with sprint for 10 years after leaving cingular. I like sprint but this it so stupid to bet the farm. If this works, I can see my unlimited plan going bye bye as sprints network will get crushed. Bad idea sprint!
 
No way would Apple agree to exclusivity with Sprint on a 5. They would lose money on this.

Plus there are other reasons, nowhere have we seen HD Facetime sensors for the iPhone, Spring is going LTE next year, etc.
 
Detrius said:
People didn't switch to Verizon in droves because it was the same phone. People will switch with the new iPhone.
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Actually you could argue that people didn't switch because it was a WORSE phone on Verizon. No ability for simultaneous voice/data, and a much slower 3G data speed. CDMA is an afterthought for iPhone, the capabilities are much better on GSM.
 
I can't see this happening, Apple will be in self destruct mode for the iPhone 5 giving it soley to Sprint who was never a player before, that would be a kick in the Butt for AT&T and Verizon.

I do see them getting into the game, but Exclusive? I am on the fence on this one, Apple would be hurting all the loyal iphone users out there for $, not sure they can afford to ruin their reputation on Sprint alone.
 
Sprint ? One of the smallest names in the game ?

CDMA Only ?!?!

Exclusivity and a middle finger to all those who bought into the AT&T partnership


Who-Are-You-Kidding-logo.jpg




Really, is ANYONE buying this ?
 
vitzr said:
How embarrassing for all the haters that bash "free" Android phones. Actually I think a free iPhone makes a lot of sense. I'm sure many of you, who claim specs don't matter will agree.

The average person has no clue about the inner workings or specs, nor do they care. They only want an iPhone because they are into fashion, or having what their neighbor has, or some other vanity driven issue.

Ego is a big factor here, Steve Jobs drove that one home for years. The ultimate spin master has crafted a speech for Tim that will make anything, no matter how absurd, sound like a wonderful "Magical & Revolutionary" development.

Tomorrow will mark another milestone in the continuing saga of "Apple Works Miracles".

The crowd will roar in approval, empty their wallets and slap each other on the back with big smiles plastered on their faces.

Ya gotta love it... :)
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Why’d you quote me, Troll?
 
we'll find out in a few hours folks. Sit back and relax til then. I think there probly is an iphone 5. Seems silly that att stores would be stocking cases for it if it didnt exist and would be available soon. Apple is in the business of wowing investors- I think its more likely that they're looking to blow the doors off the industry tomorrow much in the way they did in '07
Just sit tight :)
 
This doesn't sound so outlandish to me. Sprint agrees to buying $20 billion worth of iPhones and in exchange gets a couple months head start on AT&T and Verizon. For people like me who have a 3GS and need a new phone like yesterday, I'll switch to Sprint, no problem. Esp since they have unlimited data AND assuming the new iPhone will have WiMax.

For those in the middle of their 2 year contract, most probably won't buy until next summer anyhow, and those who would buy the new phone will either still do so with Sprint, or just wait a couple of months. For Apple, it's a win-win. What do they care which carriers sell their phone? The more the merrier for them. And it gives them leverage for the future. I suspect they learned from their AT&T exclusivity deal. This also gives a nice boost to Sprint who becomes a contender once again if they get a 2.5 month exclusivity on the iPhone 5.

As an end user, I could care less about the carrier - they're all fairly close in price anyhow (except T-mobile but they aren't an option anyhow), and my number is transferable. My contract with AT&T is up, so I'll go wherever the iPhone 5 goes.
 
I believe it. People are always saying how they are so happy with their iphone 4s anyways... What do you need the five for if your contract isnt even up yet. Just wait a little. Your time will come.
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoutman11
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.

Except that Apple doesnt need to do this in order to get this deal. Sprint would do anything to get the iPhone. They are fighting for survival. Giving them an exclusive sales period sounds like Apple is the desperate one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your right they dont NEED too but think about it. Apple can only make so many phones in3-4 months a few million at most. Why not give them all to sprint for 3-4 months to have long term gauranteed sales many years out. They are going to sell them regardless so why not get this huge financial incentive and sell them all to sprint. Apple doesnt know what its sales will be in 2 years but this deal guarntees sales for them because maybe in 2-3 years it (iphone) wont be as popular. The rest of the world/US will be going crazy seeing the phone in sprint customers hands and in spring kiosks.

They make more money doing it this way in my opinion even though they dont NEED to.
 
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As a Sprint customer, nothing would make me happier than this; however, I just don't see Apple committing brand suicide in this way. To offer their best phone on the nation's smallest (of the big 3) network would just serve to piss off a lot of people and probably wouldn't do much for their bottom line.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A5313e)

Man I'd be pissed. But then again, I seriously doubt the validity of this claim.
 
If this is true I'm eating the cancellation fee on VZW. Selling my iP4 on CL and signing a contract with Sprint for a 5 as soon as I can.

:crosses fingers:
 
flux73 said:
This doesn't sound so outlandish to me. Sprint agrees to buying $20 billion worth of iPhones and in exchange gets a couple months head start on AT&T and Verizon. For people like me who have a 3GS and need a new phone like yesterday, I'll switch to Sprint, no problem. Esp since they have unlimited data AND assuming the new iPhone will have WiMax.

For those in the middle of their 2 year contract, most probably won't buy until next summer anyhow, and those who would buy the new phone will either still do so with Sprint, or just wait a couple of months. For Apple, it's a win-win. What do they care which carriers sell their phone? The more the merrier for them. And it gives them leverage for the future. I suspect they learned from their AT&T exclusivity deal. This also gives a nice boost to Sprint who becomes a contender once again if they get a 2.5 month exclusivity on the iPhone 5.

As an end user, I could care less about the carrier - they're all fairly close in price anyhow (except T-mobile but they aren't an option anyhow), and my number is transferable. My contract with AT&T is up, so I'll go wherever the iPhone 5 goes.
Click to expand...

Sprint will bet the farm on only a few MONTHS exclusivity? ****ing insane. i HIGHLY doubt that, not for only a few months...
 
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