IPhone 5 Exclusive on Sprint?

**Neutrino** · 10-03-2011, 01:38 PM

@BGR: Sprint guarantees to buy over $20 billion in iPhones from Apple, launching the iPhone 5.

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**Netherscourge** · 10-03-2011, 01:51 PM

Can the Sprint network possibly handle an exclusive iPhone 5 subscriber base?

**liquidzoo** · 10-03-2011, 01:51 PM

Launching with Sprint support: 80/20 yes

Sprint Exclusive: 100% no.

As much as one of my friends would like to argue this point, there is no way it will be Sprint exclusive.

**mobile79** · 10-03-2011, 01:52 PM

Exclusive to Sprint? Boy would this **** a lot of people off.

**kch50428** · 10-03-2011, 01:54 PM

Does anyone here really think that Apple would enrage their loyal users on AT&T and Verizon to give Sprint this deal?

If you do, send me some of what you're drinking and/or smoking because I want to live in a fantasy world too

**DreamOutLoud65** · 10-03-2011, 01:55 PM

whoa! This seems a little unbelievable.. BGR is really grasping here.. me thinks..

**DrewBear** · 10-03-2011, 01:55 PM

30 million iPhones over 4 years. WSJ is usually a very strong source. This would certainly explain

**Neutrino** · 10-03-2011, 01:56 PM

@allthingsd: Sprint to "Bet the Company" on iPhone

More info: Sprint would be in the red through 2014. Wonder who would buy Sprint then? Fire auction sale!

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**Netherscourge** · 10-03-2011, 01:56 PM

Is this Apple's attempt to bully AT&T and Verizon back into offering unlimited data plans?

Because if it is, I LIKE IT.

**pilsbury** · 10-03-2011, 01:57 PM

LOL@kch. No way AT&T is not going to get the i5. Sprint couldnt handle an exclusive, and ATT and Apple have a VERY lucrative partnership (for both parties) going.

**Neutrino** · 10-03-2011, 01:58 PM

Might also explain why Apple Stores have been installing 4G equipment.

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**Jellotime91** · 10-03-2011, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Netherscourge

Is this Apple's attempt to bully AT&T and Verizon back into offering unlimited data plans?

Because if it is, I LIKE IT.

That would actually make sense. But there's absolutely no way Apple is giving Sprint the iPhone 5 and no one else.

I can see Apple and Sprint having some serious marketing together though, if Sprint does indeed keep unlimited data for the iPhone.

**liquidzoo** · 10-03-2011, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by iPhonejunkie3

Might also explain why Apple Stores have been installing 4G equipment.

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Apple already has a deal with Verizon, who is running a 4G (well, 3.5G officially) LTE network. AT&T also has a LTE network up, though it's very small right now.

Sprint's LTE network is still in testing last I heard, and only their WiMAX network was up (though incredibly spotty in a lot of places I've heard).

The rest of the world is going with LTE (the big carriers anyway), though it has been reported from Apple (a year-ish ago, can't find the link atm) that the first 4G iPhone will be the iPhone 6 (at the earliest). Very little chance of a 4G iPhone this time around, and a much less chance of it being WiMAX when no other large carrier in the world could use the technology.

Seriously, don't get your hopes up for a Sprint exclusive iPhone 5. Sprint's network, as robust as they make it sound, would be crippled.

**Premium1** · 10-03-2011, 02:33 PM

I can't see them changing it just for Sprint. Look how they kept the same one when verizon got it. I can't see them staggering a release on the nations two largest carriers. They would be losing out on a ton of customers.

**Neutrino** · 10-03-2011, 02:34 PM

We're not just talking US customers, but the world!

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**DrewBear** · 10-03-2011, 02:35 PM

Let's not confuse the two main stories that just broke.

WSJ is reporting a NON-EXCLUSIVE agreement for Sprint to buy $20 billion worth of iPhones over 4 yrs. Nothing about 4G/WiMAX. This is a credible story.

BGR is reporting an exclusive agreement for Sprint to get the 4G iPhone 5 months before it is released to AT&T and Verizon as a LTE phone. This is total BS.

**SeanHRCC** · 10-03-2011, 02:42 PM

I heard the iPhone 5 was coming exclusively to Metro PCS...

**Netherscourge** · 10-03-2011, 02:45 PM

Why would Sprint just go buy $20 billion worth of iPhone 5s if they weren't getting some sort of trade-off?

Not only are they paying $20B up front, they'd have to eat some of the iPhone 5's actual per-unit cost just to get people to buy it and sign up on their network.

That's a pretty huge gamble if they aren't getting something from Apple to make it worth it.

**DannyMichel** · 10-03-2011, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Netherscourge

Is this Apple's attempt to bully AT&T and Verizon back into offering unlimited data plans?

Because if it is, I LIKE IT.

Haha, hell yeah, that would be awesome

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**Neutrino** · 10-03-2011, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by DrewBear

Let's not confuse the two main stories that just broke.

WSJ is reporting a NON-EXCLUSIVE agreement for Sprint to buy $20 billion worth of iPhones over 4 yrs. Nothing about 4G/WiMAX. This is a credible story.

BGR is reporting an exclusive agreement for Sprint to get the 4G iPhone 5 months before it is released to AT&T and Verizon as a LTE phone. This is total BS.

Absolutely true on both parts. The bit about 4G/WiMax is entirely from BG's speculation. I wouldn't call it BS. It is insightful into the possible goings on of Sprint. Credible, maybe not. Only one way to validate that - tomorrow!

"I have been going back and forth for weeks with one of my incredibly solid industry contacts on a piece of information that I couldn’t really process at first — information that is so unbelievable, even from a source this solid, that I couldn’t report it. With this new WSJ report on an Apple/Sprint deal, however, it doesn’t look so crazy. Hit the break for more.

I have been told that Sprint will be getting the iPhone 5 — yes the real iPhone 5, not the iPhone 4S — as an exclusive. And it will be a 4G WiMAX device. AT&T and Verizon would launch the iPhone 4S and get the iPhone 5 some time in the first quarter of next year as an LTE device. Globally, the iPhone 5 might be available as a 4G HSPA+ device."

**Netherscourge** · 10-03-2011, 02:55 PM

My only question is this - $20 billion is NOTHING to AT&T and Verizon. Why didn't they jump into the ring and compete for exclusivity?

Unless, as I mentioned above, Apple was trying to send a message to AT&T and Verizon about ditching their unlimited plans...

Hmmmm.....

**Neutrino** · 10-03-2011, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Netherscourge

My only question is this - $20 billion is NOTHING to AT&T and Verizon. Why didn't they jump into the ring and compete for exclusivity?

Unless, as I mentioned above, Apple was trying to send a message to AT&T and Verizon about ditching their unlimited plans...

Hmmmm.....

20 billion is a lot to AT&T and Verizon. For that price, Sprint would have been better off allowing Apple to buy a majority/controlling share of Sprint.

**DrewBear** · 10-03-2011, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Netherscourge

Why would Sprint just go buy $20 billion worth of iPhone 5s if they weren't getting some sort of trade-off?

Not only are they paying $20B up front, they'd have to eat some of the iPhone 5's actual per-unit cost just to get people to buy it and sign up on their network.

That's a pretty huge gamble if they aren't getting something from Apple to make it worth it.

They are NOT paying $20B upfront. It is a 4 yr. contract to buy 30 million iPhones.

All the U.S. carriers are subsidizing the iPhone. AT&T and Verizon contract customers may pay $49-299 for their phones, but the carriers pay Apple an average of $655 for each iPhone.

This is a massive gamble. The WSJ story says that Sprint's subsidy may be $500. If that's true, maybe they're going to offer the iPhone for $149 with 2 yr. contract. Add unlimited data to that and Sprint could easily start to draw customers from the other carriers.

Sprint is in dire straits. Maybe Sprint had to offer them something like this to get Apple to make a Sprint iPhone. Apple is in negotiations with some pretty big carriers in China & Japan. There are limits to how fast they can increase manufacturing capacity.

**Netherscourge** · 10-03-2011, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by DrewBear

They are NOT paying $20B upfront. It is a 4 yr. contract to buy 30 million iPhones.

All the U.S. carriers are subsidizing the iPhone. AT&T and Verizon contract customers may pay $49-299 for their phones, but the carriers pay Apple an average of $655 for each iPhone.

This is a massive gamble. The WSJ story says that Sprint's subsidy may be $500. If that's true, maybe they're going to offer the iPhone for $149 with 2 yr. contract. Add unlimited data to that and Sprint could easily start to draw customers from the other carriers.

Sprint is in dire straits. Maybe Sprint had to offer them something like this to get Apple to make a Sprint iPhone. Apple is in negotiations with some pretty big carriers in China & Japan. There are limits to how fast they can increase manufacturing capacity.

Well, if it's Sprint exclusive, and they offer their Unlimited Everything plan alongside it, they're going to do well so long as the network itself doesn't explode.

**DreamOutLoud65** · 10-03-2011, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Netherscourge

Well, if it's Sprint exclusive, and they offer their Unlimited Everything plan alongside it, they're going to do well so long as the network itself doesn't explode.

this..

hopefully it won't .. we will see what Sprint says on friday at their event.