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Sprint begins briefing sales associates on iPhone 4 for October launch (Updated)

by Erica Sadun Sep 13th 2011 at 11:30AM

A Sprint Nextel sales associate told TUAW that the carrier has started briefing its employees on an imminent Sprint iPhone 4 launch.

The briefing reportedly told the sales team that Sprint will begin offering the iPhone 4 in October 2011 (next month) with standard Sprint data plans; they will include a $10 data smartphone premium that is not specific to iPhone.

The associate also suggested that Sprint will carry a 4G iPad, though launch dates and pricing were still unknown. Of course, Sprint already sells 4G access for the iPad via its external mobile 4G WiFi product; maybe that's what the briefing referenced.

If the associate's information is accurate, Sprint will not get the iPhone 5 until 2012, most likely by early spring. The sales briefing report aligns with Bloomberg's story about the potential arrival date on Sprint of both the 4 and 5 models, and with but the WSJ reporting on the phone's rollout schedule explicitly called for an iPhone 5 in October along with VZW and AT&T availability. It's not clear why our source was convinced of the iPhone 5's 2012 release schedule on Sprint, but that's what we were told repeatedly.

We have reached out to Sprint's press office for comment, but have not heard back (and we don't expect to). The response was a boilerplate "Thanks for your inquiry; we do not comment on rumors or speculation."

Update: A commenter suggests one theory for the iPhone 4 vs. iPhone 5 detail: that Sprint's training materials may be featuring the iPhone 4 simply to avoid inadvertently leaking features of the iPhone 5, much as Verizon's initial iPhone training was based on the 3GS rather than the then-unreleased iPhone 4. That does not explain why our source was so solidly convinced that the iPhone 5 introduction for Sprint would be in 2012, however.

Thanks, Nick A.



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A Sprint Nextel sales associate told TUAW that the carrier has started briefing its employees on an imminent Sprint iPhone 4...
 

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EricJBrown1

I think the commentator's point is valid. The train on the iPhone 4 becuase people like this Sprint associate can't keep their mouths shut (which I appreciate). Whats the likelihood that Apple is going to walk in an say, "Hey we are training you on the iPhone 4 because we just don't want you to see the yet unannounced iPhone 5". Its been said below but, release just the iPhone 4 on Sprint and waiting to 2012 to release the iPhone 5 seems just dumb from a sales stand point. They risk losing customers to Verizon and AT&T, which Sprint can't afford. I believe that everything that is happening (raising EFT and eliminating premier program) points toward an iPhone release and the newest on at that. All of that said, until Gizmodo finds another prototype in a bar, we can all talk till we are blue in the face, and Apple will just keep laughing at creating the largest amount of speculation since the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.

September 16 2011 at 5:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marty Mankins

The sales associate is giving vague information to keep his job. The update to the article talks about Verizon's 3GS talking points, to avoid any conflict of being under NDA. I would prefer the iPhone 5 over the 4 and I think Sprint launching an iPhone 4 this late in the game wouldn't do much for sales vs. offering an iPhone 5.

September 15 2011 at 10:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave Zatz

You need a better source, I'm frankly surprised you ran with this.

September 15 2011 at 6:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tehsu

I personally believe that the next iPhone is the iPhone 4S just because they will be updating the CPU just like they did from the 3G to the 3GS and as Oobitsa stated we haven't seen any case design leaks which can point to that this is just a CPU update, as they update the exact model when there is a physical redesign.

September 15 2011 at 3:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tehsu's comment
tehsu

Also if the rumors of the cases shown like the 4" case is true then the iPhone 5 is coming in October.

September 15 2011 at 3:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
phenixdragon

@Oobitsa What are you talking about? There have been plenty of good links, such as the missing iPhone 5. Plus Apple has had lots of products with no leaks at all. Just because there is a leak, or lack of, it doesn't mean one thing or another.

It wouldn't make sense for the iPhone 4 to be released this year on Sprint and everyone else to get the iPhone 5 which Sprint getting next year. Next year we probably will see the iPhone 6 and in spring/early summer. I think it makes perfect sense that they mention the iPhone for not to tip off the iPhone 5 is coming this year.

September 15 2011 at 3:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JR

Sprint might be late the iPhone 5 party, but because major releases of iOS have always come with new handsets, I'd find it hard to believe we won't see an iPhone 5 on at least ATT and Verizon next month. We already know iOS 5 is going to be release in the coming weeks, so doesn't that mean iPhone 5? Does anyone remember a major iOS release (not just an decimal point update) without new hardware?

September 14 2011 at 12:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pphill6799

"Think about it: It's mid September and we don't have any good leaks. No conceivably accurate case designs. Nothing."

No accurate case designs???

http://9to5mac.com/2011/09/03/if-you-believe-these-iphone-5-cases-your-next-iphone-may-have-a-4-inch-screen/

September 13 2011 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Oobitsa

I got a theory. You know why Sprint is doing iPhone 4 training? Because the iPhone 5 isn't coming out until next summer. Think about it: It's mid September and we don't have any good leaks. No conceivably accurate case designs. Nothing.

I'm becoming more convinced that the new iPhones for 2011 were, in fact, the CDMA iPhone 4 for Verizon and Sprint. Just my theory.

September 13 2011 at 8:04 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Oobitsa's comment
Justin

If the new Sprint iPhone, whether the 4 or 5, is not 4G, what reason is there to use Sprint's ridiculously slow 3G network? I've been on Sprint for 10+ years, but waiting for the iPhone 5 to make the jump to AT&T or T-Mobil. I've compared prices for both an individual and a 2-person family plan, and Sprint now costs the same as AT&T. The only difference between the two plans is the 2GB data limit on AT&T. That is a hard number to hit on a Sprint 3G network is too slow to stream music, download Netflix, or even load Google Maps 50% of the time...

September 13 2011 at 5:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anthony

I would care more if Sprint even came in good in my area. One-bar signal only, at best.

September 13 2011 at 3:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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