Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
Where will Apple bring its iPhone next? Most of the speculation revolves around Verizon Wireless, the largest cellular carrier in the US. There are new rumors that Sprint could also benefit from an end to the the exclusive iPhone agreement Apple and AT&T have had since 2007.
Any move to Verizon or Sprint would make a CDMA iPhone necessary, while service on T-Mobile and AT&T already work with the current GSM model iPhone. Several sources have told MacRumors that Sprint is preparing for an iPhone 4 release on its network in September 2010.
Apple has much to gain by spreading its hardware and content delivery system to as many networks as possible. Sprint CFO Robert Brust would not confirm that an Apple deal is in the works, however he stated, "we'd love to have it" when asked about the iPhone. The company has recently lost many customers, however it remains the third largest US carrier with 48.1 million subscribers.
Adding fuel to the rumors, a Best Buy employee has claimed that store displays featuring the iPhone on Sprint will be made public in June. The employee said no mention of Verizon Wireless will be in the promotional materials, and that Apple ended its exclusive deal with AT&T by giving the carrier iPad 3G customers.
Of course, anonymous rumors like these need to be taken with a grain of salt. More questions are sure to surface regarding Sprint and other carriers as well. Steve Jobs himself is expected to launch the iPhone 4 at WWDC 2010 in the second week of June. Maybe he'll have some answers to share.
Comments
Anonymous replied on Permalink
Ok I am fueling the fire as my AT&T is now a month to month and will be going to Sprint very soon. Sprint will be releasing the iPhone ahead of EVO. My contact said the days are less than the fingers count on your hands. I do hope model CDMA/GSM as I travel overseas and will make it nice having dual. I also like the EVO but like all the appz I own and decided to stay iPhone for now.
MBC
Anonymous replied on Permalink
How can Sprint release the iPhone ahead of the Evo? The Evo comes out next Friday and Apple won't hold their meeting until at least the week after the Evo is released.
Sprint wouldn't put out a 3GS version and then put out the 4G version only months later. It would be stupid for Apple to all of a sudden start making 3GS-CDMA versions of the iPhone while they're trying to assemble millions of 4G phones in anticipation of its release in late June/July.
Your suggestion that Sprint will debut an iPhone before the Evo comes out is lame, baseless and stupid. They'd have to release the iPhone tomorrow in order to get it out before the Evo.
Lastly, you're clearly only about 14 or 15 years old, because you referred to "apps" as "appz." Only teenage high school kidz dropz z'z onz wordz.
Matt replied on Permalink
How can Sprint release the iPhone ahead of the Evo? The Evo comes out next Friday and Apple won't hold their meeting until at least the week after the Evo is released.
Sprint wouldn't put out a 3GS version and then put out the 4G version only months later. It would be stupid for Apple to all of a sudden start making 3GS-CDMA versions of the iPhone while they're trying to assemble millions of 4G phones in anticipation of its release in late June/July.
Your suggestion that Sprint will debut an iPhone before the Evo comes out is lame, baseless and stupid. They'd have to release the iPhone tomorrow in order to get it out before the Evo.
Lastly, you're clearly only about 14 or 15 years old, because you referred to "apps" as "appz." Only teenage high school kidz dropz z'z onz wordz.
tomL replied on Permalink
I hope this rumor is true, and sooner rather than later.
I am currently month to month on Verizon and would switch to Sprint in a heartbeat if a CDMA iPhone appears soon.
I'd take a 3G iPhone on Sprint ahead of the same phone on Verizon or even an EVO 4G on Sprint. An AT&T iPhone is not even in the running (mostly due to a lack of tethering and data caps)