OT - Apple's iPhone going to Sprint?

[DaveDragon]

Apple's iPhone going to Sprint? | ZDNet

 

[byteware]

Well, it's certainly not coming to Verizon any time soon.

 

[daddyd302]

Until Apple comes out and states it, it's just another rumor.

 

[Woosh]

Well, it's certainly not coming to Verizon any time soon.

I must admit that when I saw a deal with Microsoft from Verizon and semi kicking Google under the bus I thought it might be possible they were getting the iphone.

But tbh Sprint is the more likely choice and if it were come to the states since 4G is already rolled out on Sprint and they can do voice/data same time with such power it could be possible.(Although imo very unlikely)

Rumors been around for a while now that it will go elsewhere and so far it has not. I think with the onslaught of Android coming up Apple may have to make a move going on more carriers soon.(probably a reason they loosened reigns on app market)

I'm playing wait and see, and since Android imo is better then ios I atm don't even care if it comes. But I will say it will boost Sprint business by a lot.

 

[twospirits]

Well, it's certainly not coming to Verizon any time soon.

Well, no company CEO will outright say its coming to their network for fear of cutting into their current (in this case Droid) sales. It may well be that they are still getting the iPhone but don't want to say anything that would stop current Droid sales.

Until Apple comes out and states it, it's just another rumor.

They don't need to actually come out and say anything, just read between the lines of the latest news stories and one clearly sees that by years end or the 1st quarter of next year a CDMA iPhone will be available. Which carrier, well thats up to debate.

personally a Sprint iPhone with Wimax 4G would be a show stopper. Both in terms of users as well as for Sprint subscribers. If the comments by the Verizon CEO are true to his own words then Sprint would be the most likely choice. No one really knows when the AT&T contract with the iPhone actually ends, but if Apple is smart, it will continue with either AT&T or T-Mobile for the GSM iPhone and start another contract with Sprint for the CDMA one.
Eventually Apple will make a 4G LTE iPhone, but unless AT&T sweetens the deal for Apple i do not see them getting the 4G LTE version and instead see it going to T-Mobile in late 2011/early 2012. With Wimax having such a strong lead now and the production starting in December, I am starting to believe that Sprint would be the logical choice.

Now, if Apple and or Sprint, really wanted to blow everyone out of the water, they would make a GSM/CDMA with Wimax iPhone that would be used not only in Sprints network, but worldwide. if such a puppy were ever to be made (don't even know if its feasible) it would be one fast puppy.

We can only wait and see. Its gonna be a very interesting few months.

TS out

 

[silencer271]

the iphone 4 is going to a CDMA carrier alright.. china. They run one of the if not largest cmda network in the world. Sprint has 0 plans for the iphone as of right now. I see the iphone going to tmobile first then maybe sprint.

 

[TheNewNetwork]

the iphone 4 is going to a CDMA carrier alright.. china. They run one of the if not largest cmda network in the world. Sprint has 0 plans for the iphone as of right now. I see the iphone going to tmobile first then maybe sprint.

Finally someone else gets it


The only reason Apple was making all these CDMA phones was so they could sell them in China which just announced they will be selling the Iphone 4 very soon.


I dont know why soon as everyone heard CDMA iphone they automatically jump and say oh verizon is getting it.

CDMA is not only in America. China along with many South American countries run on CDMA networks so people need to stop jumping the gun.

 

[silencer271]

Finally someone else gets it


The only reason Apple was making all these CDMA phones was so they could sell them in China which just announced they will be selling the Iphone 4 very soon.


I dont know why soon as everyone heard CDMA iphone they automatically jump and say oh verizon is getting it.

CDMA is not only in America. China along with many South American countries run on CDMA networks so people need to stop jumping the gun.

I am shocked someone else knows this. Seems everyone is hell bent on the US is the only country in the world

 

[eieio]

If apple makes a cdma phone, you best believe it will not be available only in China..

There would be riots in the streets of America if that happened

 

[Rigmaster]

The next iPhone will be a 4G device, but I think that device will most likely be a GSM 3G/LTE version. Sadly, that means AT&T.

AT&T will practically roll over to keep iPhone (and will have to) and already has so many iPhone products on its network that it would literally kill AT&T to lose iPhone. If AT&T wasn't going to get the next iPhone, I think there would be leaks galore about how the army of Android and WPS phone choices they have - but they don't and don't show any signs of getting them soon.

 

[IOWA]

No no no the new CDMA iPhone is going to US Cellular, duh!


/s

 

[silencer271]

this is one rumor that really needs to die. Not coming to sprint android, windows phone 7 and web o/s are sprints tickets oh and that other phone I wont say its evil name

 

[ScorpDX]

 

[byteware]

Sorry, double post due to database error that kept popping up.

 

[byteware]

Well, no company CEO will outright say its coming to their network for fear of cutting into their current (in this case Droid) sales. It may well be that they are still getting the iPhone but don't want to say anything that would stop current Droid sales.

True, but they aren't going to outright LIE about it either.

They don't need to actually come out and say anything, just read between the lines of the latest news stories and one clearly sees that by years end or the 1st quarter of next year a CDMA iPhone will be available. Which carrier, well thats up to debate.

They are rolling CDMA phones out in China.

Steve Jobs won't rollout an iPhone for either Verizon or Sprint until their 4G networks are firmly in place.

Why?

Battery. The biggest problem with the EVO's battery is that it continuously looks for 4G coverage (you can turn that off, but most people don't realize THAT'S the problem).

Steve Jobs will not have the iPhone ridiculed for any reason whatsoever, battery or otherwise. He will keep the iPhone on AT&T only, until other networks are stabilized. Once Verizon has good 4G coverage or Sprint for that matter, they will roll out an iPhone for those networks. It won't happen, IMHO, until then though.

If apple makes a cdma phone, you best believe it will not be available only in China..

There would be riots in the streets of America if that happened

Anyone who has drunk THAT much of the Apple koolaid is already on AT&T, so there really isn't anything to riot about.

 

[BenChase7]

In some ways, I hope that Sprint doesnt get the iphone. I prefer Sprint to any other carrier due to their solid network and competative prices, and I'm all for their success. I like thier phone line up... they have the two best phones available right now. Its just, I think that having the iPhone would eventually drive prices up.

 

[Rigmaster]

iPhone on Sprint would bring changes and price increases in plans and phones. 3G data use would go up, and phone selection will go down. Apple likes to be the big fish where it swims.

The other reason I don't think iPhone will come to Sprint --- Google, who still owns a minority stake in Clearwire and the driving force behind Android isn't likely to see it's partner Sprint sign up for the exclusivity that Apple will demand.

Again, AT&T will practically turn itself inside out to keep the iPhone and it will be in Apple's financial interest to leave it that way. Of all things, AT&T-iPhone combo has diehards that are more than patient with the issues and willing to give them another chance to get it right with LTE.

I don't see the benefit of doing CDMA without LTE either since that's the real peach Apple wants for the next iPhone. And I think AT&T will again launch it's LTE with the iPhone. I hardly see Apple having iPads on one carrier and iPhones on another long-term. What's the point of that? GSM/LTE iPads are more world-compatible so I don't see the advantage of adding CDMA to that stable either.

The other reason I don't see VZW being a choice is they've got so much tied up with promoting Moto, HTC, and Samsung. Apple would want to be featured, and I don't see VZW being as quick to cave as AT&T has been.

 

[jav1231]

iPhone on Sprint would bring changes and price increases in plans and phones. 3G data use would go up, and phone selection will go down. Apple likes to be the big fish where it swims.

The other reason I don't think iPhone will come to Sprint --- Google, who still owns a minority stake in Clearwire and the driving force behind Android isn't likely to see it's partner Sprint sign up for the exclusivity that Apple will demand.

Again, AT&T will practically turn itself inside out to keep the iPhone and it will be in Apple's financial interest to leave it that way. Of all things, AT&T-iPhone combo has diehards that are more than patient with the issues and willing to give them another chance to get it right with LTE.

I don't see the benefit of doing CDMA without LTE either since that's the real peach Apple wants for the next iPhone. And I think AT&T will again launch it's LTE with the iPhone. I hardly see Apple having iPads on one carrier and iPhones on another long-term. What's the point of that? GSM/LTE iPads are more world-compatible so I don't see the advantage of adding CDMA to that stable either.

The other reason I don't see VZW being a choice is they've got so much tied up with promoting Moto, HTC, and Samsung. Apple would want to be featured, and I don't see VZW being as quick to cave as AT&T has been.

I don't know what you mean by "exclusivity." Apple wouldn't prevent Sprint from selling Android phones. They don't stop AT&T from doing it.

WiMax is already rolling and in use so going to WiMax isn't a bad idea. For Apple to make an iPhone with LTE anytime soon would mean stepping WAY outside their box. They don't typically ride the cutting edge.

I agree that it doesn't make sense for Apple to jump carriers without 4G but it could happen. They may simply decide to offer it on more carriers altogether. In the end, though, you're right that Apple is going to leverage as much control as it can. The company that works with them will get the phone.

As others have noted, the China connection seems probable. But I'd be surprised for Apple to make a CDMA phone and not go to an American carrier with their AT&T contract expiring. They simply can't lose.

Keep in mind that a Verizon exec has come out and categorically denied an iPhone on Verizon anytime soon.

 

[daddyd302]

Iphone is going to Verizon for sure according to WSJ.

WSJ gets less cheeky with Verizon iPhone article, now says it’s a done deal Boy Genius Report

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal made headlines by writing:

Apple Inc. plans to begin mass producing a new iPhone by the end of 2010 that would allow Verizon Wireless to sell the smartphone early next year, said people briefed by Apple.
​

While there is plenty of innuendo in that statement, the publication never actually stated that Verizon will be selling the iPhone. Today, the WSJ has un-muddied the proverbial waters and rewritten a portion of their previous article. The new article reads:

AT&T Inc. is about to lose its lock on the iPhone.
Apple Inc. is making a version of its iPhone that Verizon Wireless will sell early next year, according to people familiar with the matter, ending an exclusive deal with AT&T and sharpening the competition with Google Inc.-based phones.
​

There you have it. Your iPhone-to-Verizon rumor du jour. Bon appetit!

 

[silencer271]

WSJ says this once every 6 months it seems .They oculd be right they could be wrong either way its getting old

 

[Rigmaster]

I don't think Sprint's an iPhone candidate. I hardly see Sprint not seeing how quickly it's network could be crippled by iPhone-devotees who would love to be able to switch from ATT to Sprint. Even with ETFs and the cost of a new phone (which could easily be offset by selling old/existing iPhones), iPhoners would likely save if put on a Sprint Unlimited plan.

It would be a huge problem for Sprint to take on a massive influx of data-hungry users because Wimax isn't fully deployed and able to take on more data demand to relieve inevitable pressure on the 3G data network.

I agree that iPhone on CDMA probably will happen though, but it would be in Apple's best interest to have iPhone on VZW and ATT and have them both compete for a little while before introducing a LTE-equipped iPhone next year.

I'd bet one of the driving reasons behind Sprint alluding to LTE adoption is also that keeps them in the running for the next-gen iPhone. To commit to Wimax-only would pretty much rule Sprint out of iPhone and other LTE phones going forward.