Sprint iPhone officially announced: on sale October 14

**Yankees368** · 10-04-2011, 01:42 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/s...le-october-14/

Good luck to Sprint users! The flood of people switching to Sprint for unlimited data will be great for the company, but absolute hell for users and the already heavily over-used EVDO network.

**irev210** · 10-04-2011, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Yankees368

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/s...le-october-14/

Good luck to Sprint users! The flood of people switching to Sprint for unlimited data will be great for the company, but absolute hell for users and the already heavily over-used EVDO network.

Well, considering that iPhone users use less data vs. android users... I would rather have a flood of iPhone users vs. a flood of android users.

Currently 70+% of sprint customers buying a phone buy a smart phone, which most are android. If sprint can switch that to iPhone's it's better for the network.

**gambit57** · 10-04-2011, 02:26 PM

It's hard to say. Sprint Android users are kind of a self selective group. They picked Sprint because it has unlimited data and they're looking to use a ton of data. Android itself generally self selects its users in that they tend to be geeky, technocentric Windows type power users. Only those people would be able to maximize Android, let alone even figure out how to work an Android phone.

One reason Apple is so successful is because it's user interface can be operated by a 2 year old. Literally. Well, my son could work it when he was 1. Non-techy people discovered they can do all sorts of cool things when using Apple. I have a hard time even pulling up the messaging app on my BIL's EVO. Granted, that's running Android 2.2 but even with 2.3, it's sorta like going from Windows 95 to a shade below the XP experience. Better, but still quite a steep learning curve.

Apple. Just. Works. Intuitively. Now, a lot of these new Apple users fall into that 97% that AT&T keeps harking about that doesn't come close to 2GB a month. Or even 250 MB a month. Which is good for Sprint. However, it's possible that the hard core data users who were forced out of Apple cuz of AT&T's tiered plans can self select by migrating over to Sprint.

How many of those hard core data users are coming is up for debate. What's more important is to figure out how much excess capacity Sprint has for even those light users. Particularly if that WSJ article is true about that $20B commitment. That just sounds insane to me.

**akayareal** · 10-04-2011, 02:31 PM

Its actually better for those Android users with 4g devices in 4g areas (like myself) that they didnt come out with a Wimax Iphone.

**gambit57** · 10-04-2011, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by akayareal

Its actually better for those Android users with 4g devices in 4g areas (like myself) that they didnt come out with a Wimax Iphone.

I totally agree. Better to burn through your contract while Sprint slowly rolls out LTE. Then, when Apple releases a new iPhone with an LTE chip (which Verizon also uses), then you're not stuck with an iPhone with a useless 4G chip. Apple products actually have a REALLY long usable shelf life. You can see that by them still offering the iPhone 3GS. I bought an Intel iMac when it first came out and it's still chugging along great. Conversely, I have a Windows Vista (now 7) computer that is only a couple of years old and it became noticeably sluggish after just 1 year. So much so that my ancient iMac generally laps it for most basic computing tasks.

**mdasen** · 10-04-2011, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by gambit57

I totally agree. Better to burn through your contract while Sprint slowly rolls out LTE. Then, when Apple releases a new iPhone with an LTE chip (which Verizon also uses), then you're not stuck with an iPhone with a useless 4G chip. Apple products actually have a REALLY long usable shelf life. You can see that by them still offering the iPhone 3GS. I bought an Intel iMac when it first came out and it's still chugging along great. Conversely, I have a Windows Vista (now 7) computer that is only a couple of years old and it became noticeably sluggish after just 1 year. So much so that my ancient iMac generally laps it for most basic computing tasks.

They really do have a long shelf life. The 3GS is over 2 years old and still the second-best selling smartphone (after the iPhone 4). Even the iPhone 4 was (until today) 1 year and 3 months old and still selling for $200. It will be interesting to see if the 3GS for free takes the #2 or #3 slot against an iPhone 4 at $100. This is in comparison to Android devices whose value drops fast.

I really want to buy the new iPhone, but without LTE I feel it's better to wait. I was hoping that Apple had somehow gotten Qualcomm to produce the MDM9625 ahead of schedule. It was unlikely, but one can dream. At this point, I'm wondering why Apple waited until October. All of the pieces (other than the OS) could have shipped in the summer. While LTE isn't such a sell now with its poor battery life, I can see it becoming an issue for Apple in the Spring. By then, the MDM9625 will be in many devices and I can't see Apple keeping the 4S until October 2012 given that the majority of people should have LTE access from both Verizon and AT&T then. Granted, LTE devices haven't been selling well on Verizon against the EV-DO iPhone 4 (which has been nearly doubling the sales of all LTE devices, both phones and data cards, combined). So, maybe customers don't care so much.

Still, this will be good for Sprint and Apple. The iPhone is the most popular device on AT&T and Verizon and it will help Sprint. It will also open up more customers for Apple. I'm a little disappointed that T-Mobile didn't get it. Granted, T-Mobile might be going away as soon as next Spring, but in the meantime it would be nice for their users.

**akayareal** · 10-04-2011, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by mdasen

At this point, I'm wondering why Apple waited until October. All of the pieces (other than the OS) could have shipped in the summer. While LTE isn't such a sell now with its poor battery life, I can see it becoming an issue for Apple in the Spring. By then, the MDM9625 will be in many devices and I can't see Apple keeping the 4S until October 2012 given that the majority of people should have LTE access from both Verizon and AT&T then.

Granted, LTE devices haven't been selling well on Verizon against the EV-DO iPhone 4 (which has been nearly doubling the sales of all LTE devices, both phones and data cards, combined). So, maybe customers don't care so much.

To your 1st point, I think it had a lot to do with when they released the Verizon Iphone to not let those who bought it feel they wasted their money and a new phone comes out less than 6 months after buying their brand new Iphone.

To your second point about the Iphone out selling LTE phones on Verizon. I think that boils down to the fact that is $100 cheaper to buy a well known Iphone as opposed to buying $300 LTE Android phones on Verizon on top of already paying top dollar for service.
Especially those on family plans that may have to buy 4 new smartphones but dont want to spend the extra $400 for a LTE phone.

**digiblur** · 10-04-2011, 04:17 PM

Wow...this is it? I figured out what the S means for on the 4S. The S stands for "seriously!?" As in, yes we seriously released a slightly modified iPhone4 with still no 4G capabilities. We seriously expect you to follow the cult and buy our new phone like you did with the iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, and 4. Please ignore the fact that more powerful phones have been released earlier this year. Ours is better since it has a picture of a fruit on the back.

**Rrazr-X7** · 10-04-2011, 04:28 PM

Hmm, so we can preorder on the 7th? I just checked Apple's website and it says that the iPhone for Sprint is "coming soon"

**akayareal** · 10-04-2011, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by digiblur

Wow...this is it? I figured out what the S means for on the 4S. The S stands for "seriously!?" As in, yes we seriously released a slightly modified iPhone4 with still no 4G capabilities. We seriously expect you to follow the cult and buy our new phone like you did with the iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, and 4. Please ignore the fact that more powerful phones have been released earlier this year. Ours is better since it has a picture of a fruit on the back.

Dont forget the new Siri service that wont work right away. I personlly didnt expect anything game changing this time around cause it seems they only do that every 2yrs, more so like their computer line which gets big changes almost every 3yrs or so.

**codekill** · 10-04-2011, 04:59 PM

I feel sorry for you sprint guys getting that iphone... Sprint has not touched its network its super slow in socal

**larryt510** · 10-04-2011, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by codekill

I feel sorry for you sprint guys getting that iphone... Sprint has not touched its network its super slow in socal

Not true at all. Many EVDO carriers were just added here in So. Cal and right now as we speak at my local cell site they are installing a fiber optic cable. My local site was already fast to begin with so this should be interesting!

**Psyborg** · 10-04-2011, 05:18 PM

October 14, 2011, the day of the ultimate nerdgasm!

**Baldilocks** · 10-04-2011, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rrazr-X7

Hmm, so we can preorder on the 7th? I just checked Apple's website and it says that the iPhone for Sprint is "coming soon"

iPhone 4 is Coming Soon for Sprint. Sprint will also be selling it as well as the new iPhone 4S, which will be available at the same time as it is on all other carriers.

**Rrazr-X7** · 10-04-2011, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Baldilocks

iPhone 4 is Coming Soon for Sprint. Sprint will also be selling it as well as the new iPhone 4S, which will be available at the same time as it is on all other carriers.

I know that boss...I am just wondering if I should stay up until midnight on the 7th