Agreed. Great point.
----------
You know my thoughts on chronic's accuracy.
But yeah, it would fit.
OK. I need to logoff for a day. I'm starting to become what I loathe. Too much rumor mongering. lol
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sprint getting iPhone 5; ATT/Verizon get 4S
- Thread starter TSX
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Agreed. Great point.
----------
But yeah, it would fit.
OK. I need to logoff for a day. I'm starting to become what I loathe. Too much rumor mongering. lol
It just doesn't make any sense why Apple would limit their newest phone to a single carrier when they got out of an exclusivity relationship with ATT just last year. They have a winning product with the iPhone. They don't need Sprint's money.
Likewise, I'm not convinced Sprint can afford to, nor would wisely choose to spend $20 billion on exclusivity only until Spring 2012.
Likewise, I'm not convinced Sprint can afford to, nor would wisely choose to spend $20 billion on exclusivity only until Spring 2012.
Just a bunch of sour grape reactions from people who aren't on Sprint and feel bitter seeing the iPhone 5 go to their subscribers first. This is the same bitterness alot of AT&T iPhone owners felt when Verizon was finally getting iPhones last February. Carrier fanboys vs carrier fanboys.
I applaud Sprint if this actually is true tomorrow. Crazy rumor, but an aggressive move by them to bet the farm on iPhones.
I applaud Sprint if this actually is true tomorrow. Crazy rumor, but an aggressive move by them to bet the farm on iPhones.
I don't buy the exclusivity part. Over 4 years, 20 billion is small potatoes for apple and they stand to benefit a lot more if they have the iPhone 5 out on all networks simultaneously...more pople buying the more expensive phone instead of those who are already waiting for the redesign caving in and getting the cheaper 4S on their home network
Nah this seems to apply to just those in the US
The rest of the world should just buy it outright
I don't believe the rumor.
That being said, I agree with your comment about Sprint. Good for them if it is true.
1) Sprint wouldn't have to pay it all at once. I suspect there would be payments made as product is delivered.
2) Sprint, despite losing lots of money lately, also has lots of cash in the bank.
Sprint's problem is that they have a lot of debt due in 2012 (so all that cash they have goes bye-bye). I can't see them being able to make payments on their debt and having the funds to enter into this agreement with Apple unless the payments to Apple are delayed or the deal is structured in such a way that Sprint would pay Apple less early to pay more later.
Waiting another 3-4 months as bad as Sprint subscribers. Sprint has waited over 4 YEARS just to get an iPhone. So you tell me, which subscribers has waited longer? Anytime a launch day product comes out, alot of them have the most problems at that point. Bugs need to get sorted out. Sprint users can just be used as the guinea pigs.
Money talks. And if you want to be the most successful, you will never have enough for it. But what is Apple's reasons for this? It has 20 BILLION REASONS.
I actually like this idea just for the simple fact Verizon and AT&T can start dropping prices on their phone plans and this prevents a duopoly. I highly doubt this is true, but I won't act like some jealous ex-boyfriend (who recently got dumped) if it is.
This is like Apple's payback to Verizon and AT&T. Verizon has a big ego like Apple and rejected iPhone in the beginning since Apple's terms were so demanding. Apple's relationship with AT&T has been strained since the network and customer service has always been hated on.
When everybody in the party is GREEDY and ARROGANT, what can you do? Both carriers had their chance to please a high-maintenance girlfriend like Apple. AT&T still gets a bad rep for their dropped calls and Verizon used to attack Apple in ads with their Droid phones. Now another one wants to court Apple and pay them alot for it.
Money talks. And if you want to be the most successful, you will never have enough for it. But what is Apple's reasons for this? It has 20 BILLION REASONS.
I actually like this idea just for the simple fact Verizon and AT&T can start dropping prices on their phone plans and this prevents a duopoly. I highly doubt this is true, but I won't act like some jealous ex-boyfriend (who recently got dumped) if it is.
This is like Apple's payback to Verizon and AT&T. Verizon has a big ego like Apple and rejected iPhone in the beginning since Apple's terms were so demanding. Apple's relationship with AT&T has been strained since the network and customer service has always been hated on.
When everybody in the party is GREEDY and ARROGANT, what can you do? Both carriers had their chance to please a high-maintenance girlfriend like Apple. AT&T still gets a bad rep for their dropped calls and Verizon used to attack Apple in ads with their Droid phones. Now another one wants to court Apple and pay them alot for it.
You're understanding it wrong.
The LTE chips for a 4G Verizon or AT&T phone aren't ready. The WiMAX chips for a 4G Sprint iP5 *might* be ready today.
Here's the choice:
1.) No one gets an iPhone 5 until the LTE chips are ready
2.) Sprint gets an iPhone 5 now w/ WiMAX, everyone else gets an iPhone 5 when the LTE chips are ready (plus Apple gets $20 billion in cash)
That's an easy one from Apple's POV and actually benefits anyone out of contract right now -- as they can all sign with Sprint if they want the iP5 now.
How is that screwing AT&T or Verizon customers?
----------
Apple doesn't need the money...
...unless Sprint was asking them to make a device (a WiMAX iP5) that they had no intention of making otherwise and demanded up-front cash guarantees from Sprint.
BGR is reporting that the iPhone 5 is coming exclusively to Sprint tomorrow and will roll out to VZ and AT&T in early 2012. This is not happening. I repeat, this is not happening. That's my only point.
I feel bad for sprint customers with any 4g phone in my area...I bought a Wimax 4g phone 2 years ago and they had no coverage here yet but still charged the $10 a month for 4g coverage...
2yrs later i just looked and theres still no 4g coverage here from them....What a joke
2yrs later i just looked and theres still no 4g coverage here from them....What a joke
Why would Sprint pay that much just to get exclusivity for half a year? It doesn't sound like a smart move, but I don't know.
A half of a year that includes the holiday buying season in the US? When your company is going under, swing for the fences and hope you get a pitch to hit.
And that would also fit with the rumors of the 5 being delayed until next year. The 5 may be being delayed for ATT and Verizon until next year. As crazy as it sounds, it kind of fits with all of the delay rumors.
Sprint had less than $4B cash in the bank as of their last quarterly statement. Assume 50% of Sprint's current contract subscribers (around 30 million users) want to jump on the new iPhone over the next year, Sprint would have to write a check for $10B.
Agree with you on Sprint's debt and payment issues. Forget exclusivity (not going to happen with Sprint), I'm don't even see how Sprint could sign up for this deal with Apple period. I can't see them raising $20B to pay for the phones without increasing rates or dramatically stealing away subscribers from AT&T and Verizon.