WSJ: Sprint will sell the iPhone 5 in mid-October
At TUAW we typically look the other way when it comes to iPhone rumors, but once something hits the Wall Street Journal, we pretty much consider it a done deal. The WSJ now reports that Sprint will offer the iPhone 5 in mid-October, bringing the handset to the third-largest US carrier. The iPhone 5 will hit AT&T and Verizon at the same mid-October date. This is according to the Journal's sources, "people familiar with the matter," who have usually turned out reliable information in the past.
The Journal notes that the mid-October launch points to a later-than-expected launch for the iPhone 5, which was expected to debut in September. If the WSJ's sources are correct, and if Apple follows its prior pattern, it's likely the iPhone 5 will be announced sometime in September with the hardware hitting the market around 30 days later.
Sprint is the second-largest CDMA carrier in the US, and rumors about the iPhone coming to that network have abounded since even before the CDMA-model iPhone 4 hit Verizon. If the iPhone 5 does indeed make it to Sprint, T-Mobile will be the last major wireless carrier to not offer Apple's handsets.
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At TUAW we typically look the other way when it comes to iPhone rumors, but once something hits the Wall Street Journal, we pretty...
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My thoughts: Originally posted on MacRumors. I got too much time on my hands, sorry so long.
The iPhone 5 will be a dual-core phone running the A5 chip. LTE 4G, compatible with both AT&T and Verizon. Will not move to T-Mobile (due to possible buyout), but maybe a move to Sprint. Larger screen (just less bevel, same ppi), same overall size (not a huge clunker like the Droid X2 or something). I'm believing these beveled mockups with a larger gesture-enabled home button. So that means thinner, but somehow pull off same battery or even increased battery life (A5 chip has better power management). Camera will be bumped to 8MP and front will have a slight bump too. 32GB and 64GB models. May see price raise to $250 and $350 on contract (like other 4G phones), but likely not.
The iPhone 4S will be announced as a replacement to the iPhone 4. Same general design. Cheaper components (plastic back compared to current glass, cheaper and easier to color), will run a single core A5 chip (likely cheaper to produce A5's in bulk than keeping the A4 in production, it may even be a dual core A5 with a core turned off). This may be a "Cloud" phone with 8GB or less internal memory. Expect no contract option (most of the world runs this way), priced at $300-$400. $100 or $150 on contract.
The iPhone 3GS may still live on in it's current fashion. It'll hit free on contract. $200 off contract. (I expect this to die off this time though).
RELEASE DATES:
Most people think the iPhone 5 was pushed back so that Verizon had it's fair time with the iPhone 4 (5-6 months). Verizon should know (as well as Apple) that people are waiting to purchase an iPhone now. The iPhone 5 was pushed back due to 4G LTE testing, but Apple is hiding it under the iCloud + iOS 5 testing veil. (Wishful thinking, it's likely really due to iCloud and iOS 5, haha).
So yea, early September announcement and pre-order with September release for U.S. and select countries. China Mobile coming live in October.
IPAD 3/2 PRO
I'm still up in the air on this one. I could see an iPad HD with retina display and Final Cut Pro on the iPad (they don't really care about tarnishing that name anymore). I think they'd just wait for the iPad 3 instead of making a consumer line and pro line. They seem to be stepping away from that trend in their laptops.
I find this all implausible, but interesting nonetheless. Firstly, they can't increase the physical screen size without increasing the size of the phone. The bezel is necessary so you don't accidentally activate the screen when holding it by the sides.
LTE? No. This is a no-brainer. Not ready for prime-time and HSPA has a lot of headroom.
Two models released simultaneously? No. Not Apple's style. Sounds like fragmentation.
Based on your predictions, I expect a lot of people will be disappointed come this fall. Minor upgrade, iOS 5 (on steroids with a faster chip) will be the major selling point.
Oh I hope this is true... I have been waiting for this news for years. I hate AT&T and Verizon enough that I gave up my iPhone for a Windows Phone but I will happily rejoin the iPhone ranks if this is true. :-) I would love to hear Jobs announce that all Apple phones are now unlocked and usable on any carrier... Man that would be even better!
August 23 2011 at 9:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI just don't know if this will keep me at Sprint. I have honestly had enough of spotty reception at home.
August 23 2011 at 8:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
sracer
That's good news. Hopefully this means that an iPhone may be coming to VirginMobile USA.
August 23 2011 at 8:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAnybody know Sprint's roaming policies? Not much sprint service here in ND but I know people with Sprint phones here. I'd be all over this what with AT$T and Verizon's bitchslap to customers when it comes to data plans.
August 23 2011 at 7:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySprint will do the same thing that Att and Verizon did, launch with an unlimited plan and then cut it a month later. Why not?
August 23 2011 at 7:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI doubt it. Not as long as they are the mobile carrier underdog that no one wants to acquire. They will continue to buck the system and offer things the other greedier carriers won't. That's guerrilla warfare baby!
August 23 2011 at 9:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down@Tony
They are already implementing throttling on their prepaid plans, so it's only a matter of time before they do it on postpaid. I'm sure an iPhone release will bring the network down enough for Sprint to pull the trigger.
They're nothing more than a CDMA version of T-Mobile: cheap plans but with less than stellar coverage and crappy data rates in most places. At least T-Mobile has roaming on all plans and uses a '4G' (HSPDA+) standard that isn't unique to one carrier (unlike WiMAX which has only two-ish carriers in the world, Sprint and Sprint-supported Clear[wire]). I doubt the iPhone will support WiMAX garbage.
Besides what would make people think Sprint won't force people into an 'everything' plan like they do on most smartphones on their lineup? Those plans are expensive ($40 per line for just data???) and don't really beat out at&t or Verizon as far as features or minutes. Using Google Voice for SMS and Sprint, Verizon, and at&t cost the exact same...
I bet Sprint would keep plan pricing slightly less than at&t or Verizon (probably $10-15 cheaper), but still expensive to have overall...
"At TUAW we typically look the other way when it comes to iPhone rumors"
Is that a joke? I hate to mention it but if you follow this article's "rumors" tag then there's a whole load of iPhone rumour articles.
How many of them are from the past two months? We recently changed our policy given how much other sites are overdosing on rumours lately.
August 23 2011 at 6:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDeals of the Day
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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