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Sprint to Also Get iPhone This Year?
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As an AAPL shareholder, I certainly do not feel that way.I'm excited to see the iPhone branch out to other carriers.
But then again, the more I think about it, the more I don't like the idea.
I feel the iPhone still has the unique, fresh feel to it.
When all major carriers get it, it's going to go from "You have an iPhone, sweet! let me see it!" to "Shocking, you have an iPhone too" and they're going to be littered everywhere.
Anyone else feel this way?
The more people who buy Apple's high-margin handset, the better for Apple's bottom line and the better for my stock portfolio.
Apple fanboys should buy AAPL stock. That way, they own a piece of the company, not just their products. If you buy enough of Apple stock, it is likely in the long run that it'll pay off for all of your Apple purchases. That's right, have other Apple customers pay for your gear.
Didn't RIM have a black berry model on Sprint that would roam on GSM internationally?
/b
hmmmm..... i'd be interested if the price is better and service is good. I don't really use the iPhone as a phone much so although the calls get dropped from time to time, it's not enough to make me leave them other than a better price.
Does anyone on here currently have Sprint with a smart phone/data plan in the northern NJ/NYC area? Just wondering how the service is.
Of course, this is just a rumor i know.
Does anyone on here currently have Sprint with a smart phone/data plan in the northern NJ/NYC area? Just wondering how the service is.
Of course, this is just a rumor i know.
There were other elements also. Apple wanted certain financial arrangements that only AT&T was willing to accept, in exchange for exclusivity.
Sprint
The Sprint side of the business has actually grown customers. It's been the Nextel side that's been bleeding customers viciously. I've had Sprint for at least 10 years now and there were definitely customer service issues several years back. However, they've made improvements and actually have passed AT&T recently for customer service, which is good because there's been a very negative opinion of Sprint by many.
If Sprint does get the iPhone, it will be on a more expensive plan than normal, but I'm guessing they will undercut AT&T's iPhone plans. Sprint operates on a much narrower margin than AT&T or Verizon. Before AT&T and Verizon cut pricing, there was a $600/year difference between Sprint and AT&T/Verizon on the all everything plans. I think it's down to $20-30/mo. now.
Sprint does need to make an aggressive play to speed the company back to growth and it wouldn't surprise me if they worked a deal with Apple to get the iPhone. Also, Sprint recently announced it wouldn't sell Google's NexusOne phone after all after it was originally supposed to sell it. It could be a coincidence or it could have been part of a deal with Apple.
The Sprint side of the business has actually grown customers. It's been the Nextel side that's been bleeding customers viciously. I've had Sprint for at least 10 years now and there were definitely customer service issues several years back. However, they've made improvements and actually have passed AT&T recently for customer service, which is good because there's been a very negative opinion of Sprint by many.
If Sprint does get the iPhone, it will be on a more expensive plan than normal, but I'm guessing they will undercut AT&T's iPhone plans. Sprint operates on a much narrower margin than AT&T or Verizon. Before AT&T and Verizon cut pricing, there was a $600/year difference between Sprint and AT&T/Verizon on the all everything plans. I think it's down to $20-30/mo. now.
Sprint does need to make an aggressive play to speed the company back to growth and it wouldn't surprise me if they worked a deal with Apple to get the iPhone. Also, Sprint recently announced it wouldn't sell Google's NexusOne phone after all after it was originally supposed to sell it. It could be a coincidence or it could have been part of a deal with Apple.
Lots of posts here, so someone may have realized this already....
The iPhone has always been released/updated in July. So everyone who bought one right when it went on sale (like me) is tied to an AT&T 2-year contract that expires during July. Naturally, I'd love to get the upcoming iPhone, since my AT&T contract will be expiring. But I'm also considering a shift to Verizon if that carrier is announced.
So if Verizon (and others) won't be coming on board until the fall, I'm in a dilemma. If I get the new iPhone right away, I'll be stuck with AT&T for another two years -- with the new higher ETF. If I decide to wait till the fall, I've got a few more months with my old iPhone. But will AT&T let me simply pay month-by-month, or will they want to lock me in again, even with my old iPhone? I can see them wanting to lock me in, to make sure I don't jump ship.
Sounds like you never had a cell contract before?
Contract is 2 years, if you don't extend it, it continues at current terms after 2 years, but you are free to leave after your contract expired.
However the whole verizon thing is a bit silly.
I'm excited to see the iPhone branch out to other carriers.
But then again, the more I think about it, the more I don't like the idea.
I feel the iPhone still has the unique, fresh feel to it.
When all major carriers get it, it's going to go from "You have an iPhone, sweet! let me see it!" to "Shocking, you have an iPhone too" and they're going to be littered everywhere.
Anyone else feel this way?
Maybe, but think of it this way: What is a "win" for apple's market share over google/android? Being in more users hands, right? For this to happen apple will have to sell more iPhones than N1, Evo4G, Incredible, etc... COMBINED. (this is not likely yo happen BTW, at least not without opening to 4 major carriers and diversifying the iphone product line) The alternative is that Google continues to put android on many devices (more and more each day) with Apple's market share falling and falling. This may not be a bad thing for Apple as they will still make a crapload of money, almost guaranteed to have more market share than any ONE of the droid phones. (they make money in Hardware, remember). That won't stop the tech press from putting the word "paltry" in front of the iPHones market share when writing/blogging about it, however....
One you completed your two year contract you can leave without ETF anytime. IF you get another subsidized phone then you will need to sign a contract extension at that time which will lock you up for another two years.
I am sitting in a similar situation. I will hold on to my old iPhone at least till end of July if not into Sept just to see which way the wind blows. Is Verizon or Sprint getting the iPhone. How's the actual review by users for Evo 4G? Then I will vote with my $$$.
Negative is negative, regardless. The ads were painting the user experience as a poor one and used the iPhone to illustrate it. If Verizon were hoping to get the iPhone on their network, it was a dumb move to use the iPhone in their ads in that way. They could have made their point about AT&T's network without using the iPhone.
You can swap NYC for UNITED STATES. ATT is horrible everywhere. They're so bad I just cancelled my service with them. The iPhone is not worth putting up with that lousy service anymore. If Apple announces Sprint will be a carrier, I'll go with them, if not then Android gets my money. See how that works, Apple? Choices. Customers like having choices.
Actually, there was nothing illogical about what Apple did.
Arn explains in an earlier post why Apple had to offer a carrier exclusivity. They had a lot of demands (necessary, IMO. You would have an AT&T logo, and no app store if it wasn't for this) in return for which they had to offer exclusivity. Don't forget that when the iPhone was announced, it was only a few weeks before that Cingular's CEO (yeah, Apple had partnered with Cingular originally, which merged with AT&T between the announcement and launch dates...crazy) had even seen the device.
I'm excited to see the iPhone branch out to other carriers.
But then again, the more I think about it, the more I don't like the idea.
I feel the iPhone still has the unique, fresh feel to it.
When all major carriers get it, it's going to go from "You have an iPhone, sweet! let me see it!" to "Shocking, you have an iPhone too" and they're going to be littered everywhere.
Anyone else feel this way?
No, but then again I'm not an elitist jerk.
Man this would be nice. Verizon would be forced to compete on price, so would ATT, as Sprint has their 69.99 plan. Although I assume that Sprint's data add on would be more for the iPhone, I could see them undercutting everyone on price.
I love market competition! See this Adobe? it's called companies competing with and for the best product- notice how they aren't sitting around and bitching about things.
I love market competition! See this Adobe? it's called companies competing with and for the best product- notice how they aren't sitting around and bitching about things.
I think they could co-exist. I doubt that Apple would build in support for 4g on the new iPhone, and even if they did, I just see them as two different phones. I guess the "I hate everything Apple" crowd would still have their device.
You don't get out of your house much do you?
All the "whiney" people are people that use their mobile phone to be... well mobile. Us "whiney" people travel around the USA and want to be able to stay connected when we do. I can't even travel around my state and stay connected with AT&T, but I can with Verizon.
But that's just for my area. Were I to live elsewhere, I might enjoy great AT&T or Sprint service, but I don't so what is there to do but look forward to the day I could have the advantages of the iPhone and a reliable connection via Verizon.
The lack of T-Mobile rumors is good news. The Verizon rumors have been numerous and some of them have been absolutely absurd.
Apple's partners usually clam up real tight when there's a deal in the works. The Verizon CEO (and other execs) are big blabbermouths, implying that there is no deal in the works.
This Sprint rumor comes from some dubious sources. Amongst the most dubious are retail employees (Best Buy, cellphone retail); they typically aren't given any notification until very, very late.
If Apple were to end carrier exclusivity in the United States, the most logical next step would be to open up to T-Mobile USA (another GSM carrier with UTMS 3G data services). Adding the AWS band to the 3G radio on the iPhone is a no-brainer, and T-Mobile would probably have to do little work (mostly set up servers to handle Visual Voicemail). Apple could easily test a T-Mobile iPhone quite steathily.
Since there has been no hiring surge of CDMA engineers at Apple, it is unlikely that we would see an iPhone at Verizon or Sprint in the near future anyhow.
I agree, but I doubt the sacks full of money Apple would earn are less important that a cheap shot at the network the iPhone is on, or the iPhone itself.
Agreed and see below.
You also sound like an elitist jerk even though your precious iPhone is being sold at . . . . wait for it . . . Walmart!
I think they could co-exist. I doubt that Apple would build in support for 4g on the new iPhone, and even if they did, I just see them as two different phones. I guess the "I hate everything Apple" crowd would still have their device.
Not only could they co-exist, they wouldn't be in the same class. The EVO would still be flagship, and the iPhone would in no way be above that phone. The "I love everything Apple no matter what crowd" really needs to get off their high horse and see that Android and WebOS has major advantages over iPhone OS3 and OS4. Pair either of those previous OSes to a device made by HTC and it just hurts the iPhone.
The only thing missing is iTunes sync, and well, that's not that big of a deal to many.
Sprint branded iPhone?
Rumors are out that iPhone is going to come to Sprint this summer, but does that mean that it will now get Sprint branded on the front like other smartphones at Sprint???
Rumors are out that iPhone is going to come to Sprint this summer, but does that mean that it will now get Sprint branded on the front like other smartphones at Sprint???