Sprint is widely speculated to also offer Apple's iPhone 5 when it is launched in the next few weeks, along with AT&T and Verizon.
Bloomberg has just reported that Sprint will indeed be offering Apple's iPhone 5 next month and will be offering iPhone customers an unlimited data plan to compete with AT&T and Verizon who have moved to tiered data plans.
Bloomberg reports:
Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) will offer Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPhone next month with unlimited data service plans to distinguish itself from rivals AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless, according to people familiar with the matter.
Sprint, the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, plans to begin selling the device in mid-October under a deal with Apple for the next model, the iPhone 5, said the people, who wouldn’t be identified because the plans aren’t public. Becoming the country’s only operator to offer the device with unlimited data service for a flat fee may help Sprint draw customers from AT&T and Verizon Wireless, which already carry the phone, they said.
In the last few weeks, we’ve heard several rumors that Sprint might offer Apple’s iPhone 5 on it’s network. Sprint even had to send an internal memo to its employees telling them: “Do not Speculate about Sprint Getting the iPhone.”, which was counter productive as it was perceived by some as a positive indication that Sprint is finally getting the iPhone.
A leaked internal memo revealed that even Best Buy is expecting Sprint iPhone 5 in the first week of October. Couple of days back, a report also claimed that Sprint has started installing signal repeaters in Apple's Retail stores, suggesting that it was gearing up for iPhone 5 launch.
Bloomberg reports that Sprint has also postponed the launch of a new rival 4G phone to prepare for the iPhone 5 launch.
We expect Sprint to offer the $99 unlimited data and voice plans that it currently offers to smartphone users, also to iPhone customers to compete with Verizon and AT&T who offer tiered data plans. When Verizon first started offering Apple's iPhone 4 earlier in the year, it offered iPhone customers unlimited data plans, which was seen as one of the unique selling points of Verizon iPhone, but Verizon has since moved to the tiered data plans like AT&T. We hope that Sprint does not follow in Verizon and AT&T's footsteps and continues to offer the unlimited data and voice plans.
Will you switch to Sprint if it offers iPhone 5 with the $99 unlimited data and voice plan? Let us know in the comments section below.
I have att unlimited with iPhone 4. No reason to switch!
Yeah but you still pay for minutes + text messages
I’m in th u.k and get ripped off no matter which network I choose!
I have the Evo 4G and have been seriously considering leaving Sprint because I want an iPhone. If they get it, I may just stay. Tiered data plans was one reason why I hadn’t made the switch yet to AT&T or Verizon.
Yeah Im for sure going to switch from att if that’s the case, and I know a lot of people who are planning to do the same.
I would switch even to MetroPCS to get away from AT&T if they were to offer the iPhone. $120/month for crappy service and AT&T gets to tell me how I can and cannot use the 2Gigs that I buy each month? I don’t think so.
sprint all the way
Why nobody uses simple mobile or h2o?
cuz you touch yourself at night
Must be why I got this text just now:
AT&T Free Msg: You now have FREE calling to ANY U.S. mobile phone. We’ve upgraded your messaging plan to Messaging Unlimited with Mobile to Any Mobile Calling at NO additional cost to you. Just our way of saying thank you for being an AT&T customer.
I received that text from ATT too. I already have around 4,000 roll over minutes anyway.
I am going with Sprint if they get iPhone. This is why I am waiting and only have month-to-month plan right now.
I am super excited. Can’t wait.
Thank you Apple for finally going with other carriers other than AT&T and Verizon. Hope T-Mobile also gets iPhone 5.
No everyone will be heading to Sprint.
WHAT?! *Not* everyone, or *Now* everyone?! Which did you mean?!?!?
i will,i hate at&t, i was going to switch to verizon but if this is true i’m going to sprint
Sprint needs something to increase their customer base. Once that happens, good bye unlimited data. AT&T, Vzw and now TMo. Sprint is next. I really don’t why these wireless companies do this. They claim WiFi is unlimited but data is data. Cell data is the same as WiFi. It goes through a cable to air and back to cable. Cell voice works the same way. It goes through a hard line before it goes through the air. It’s all bogus and we are limited like we pay taxes, lining someone’s pocket.
Sorry, WIFI and 3G is not the same. The problem is FCC controlled leased bandwidth to the tower, not the wire from the tower out.
That’s not a fact. If it were, Sprint would be tiered as well. Can’t give one carrier unlimited privilege and the rest tiered. This has nothing to do with the FCC. It has to do with competition and control. Power. FYI, WiFi is controlled by the FCC. Look on the bottom of your router.
Oh! Your right. FCC gave Sprint special privileges on unlimited data to sell the iPhone 5. You totally missed the point.
Very frankly, 2GB of data a month is enough for me.
I use between 50-150MB of 3g data and has been consistent for the past 9 months. I’d like to see a $10 or even a $5 plan for those of us who rarely use wireless data.
Most of my data usage is on wifi which is available everywhere I go. The only time I really use 3g data is during a car drive from point A to point B.
Sprint is way better than atet there a rippoff they nickel and dime people to death. Sprint is unlimited text and web not atet. Doesnt compare
I was with Sprint for almost 10 years. They have the very worst customer service ever! An unlimited data plan sounds nice but is it worth it? I sure don’t think so!
Sprints network is good dont need much customer service. Atet plays price up and doen too much. They charge to much for there text plans and too much for there data 2gig plan in wich sprint offers unlimited text and internet for less than atets basic plans.
i hear people on here talking so much about at&t but the funny thing is everyone i know love it, even the people that only have a 2 gb plan, i have a pretty old plan so i have unlimited internet and text, and i never actually talk on the phone so its perfect for me, and i think their customer service is excellent, they usually dont trip about me being a week late with my payment as long as i give them fair warning. idk thats just me though
I wouldn’t exactly say that I love AT&T, but I am a happy customer. Their service works fine for the places I frequent and I haven’t had the need to call customer service in over 5 years. A competitor would have to really give me an offer I can’t refuse before I even consider switching.
As for others who have problems, I would suggest giving another carrier a try. If it works out for you, then great. If not, then keep trying new carriers until you find one that suits your needs.
Sprint sucks they have shity service
i use to be with sprint,i love att because if u late with ya bill they give u time to pay it still keeping your service on.sprint on the other handu if u late oneday they will shut u off!!!TRUTH
I don’t like sprint much either, but i may have to switch. If sprint offers tethering then its a done deal. I’m just hoping the launch delay was apple trying to squeeze a LTE chip in the phone last minute
.
I am using iphone 4 with T-Mobile as $50 unlimited everything. I was using the phone and tethering on my laptop any where when I go.