Sprint is in the hole against Apple for 12 billion dollars (20 billion over the next 4 years). Sprint said they had no real choice that they needed to stay viable by bringing devices to the lineup that people want.
What you are referring to is postpaid, no contract when you buy the device outright or BYOD. You still need to be able to pass credit but have no commitment.
Sprints iPhone deal was enough to send the stock plummeting. It's LTE projected roll out cost didn't help either.
30.5 million iPhones over four years, which would cost $20 billion at current rates. That's 7 million, 625 thousand units per year but it's not all that impossible.
If you factor in CONTRACT renewals, they might pull it off.
Years 1 & 2 will be the most critical as the new iPhone sign ups will be a good barometer of potential renewals. With T-Mobile not getting the device and Sprint as a perceived value carrier, they may be plucking off some T-Mobile customers with it, attracting those that think the other two are too expensive and converting some of their own. Call them elitist, call them loyalist, call them anything you want but there is a faithful following of iPhone users who renew when they can. No other device brings lines out the door and weeks long back order status.
This is where I have doubts with it coming to VM or Boost. CDMA is a totally different animal than an unlocked GSM model. Although there is a survey out, that's all it is, a survey. Boost and Virgin currently do not allow BYOD and even Verizon (who has had the device for less than a year) will not allow the iPhone on it's pricey prepaid service. I wonder why that is? If Apple does not care how you sell the device, why is there not one on T-Mobile, Cricket & Metro PCS, US Cellular, etc?
In a couple of years from now Sprint will pretty much know where it stands with its commitment to Apple.
The iPhone4 (and 4s) will be a relic and if Sprint does not think it will hit the mark, they could decide to cut loose the older generation CDMA iPhone on prepaid. Some have made bold predictions (and almost like they know for certain) that 2012 will see an iPhone on VM and as much as I would like to see it, I think not.
As long as those valuable contract customers keep renewing, and it looks like they will hit the numbers they promised Apple, why bother with prepaid. Contract customers are worth 3-4 times more than a prepaid customer. Besides, it may not be Sprints decision to make. Apple made the deal with Sprint, not with Boost and Virgin. They are a totally different entity even if wholly owned by Sprint.
Just keep Boost and Virgin stocked with phones by ZTE, Huawei, Kyocera and that almost a Motorola.
Thankfully, LG, HTC and Samsung are included for entry level offerings.
That's $650 for a new UNLOCKED, CONTRACT-FREE (Prepaid) 16GB iPhone 4S, right?
"...low end" ???
and yes @ $650 it's not for everyone, however, if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
I'm sorry, by "low-end" I mean badly crippled with only 16GB of storage, ever. The same 16GB. No removable storage, no removable battery, and if you don't like that you had darn sure start saving an extra $100-200 ahead of time. (32GB microSD cards cost $20-40, obviously Apple doesn't give a rip about actual costs vs perceived ones.) I could tell you more about the failures of Apple's capabilities, but if you want an argument about that I have an inbox for a reason.
"If you have the means" -- if you're one of the rich elite that drops money needlessly all over the place? Again, you're talking about a $650 phone, theoretically on a $25/month plan. Those prices don't make any sense.
I'm sorry, by "low-end" I mean badly crippled with only 16GB ...
"If you have the means" -- if ...
Again, you're talking about a $650 phone, theoretically on a $25/month plan. Those prices ....
"I mean badly crippled with only 16GB..."
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB options vs the previous generation 8GB, etc. versions, right....
No need to worry, they will probably introduce payment options for those credit worthy consumers that lack the means but prefer prepaid wireless service.
However, if credit issues are a concern, Sprint/VM will probably have to introduce an American version of the Virgin Mobile Super Tab with the ability to add additional funds to cover the costs of advanced/premium devices.
"a $650 phone, theoretically on a $25/month plan"
That would be nice, but are you sure they are bringing the $25 plans back for smart phones?
P R E P A I D is just another way to offer (and pay for) premium services and devices.
If you really want a prepaid Apple unit, get an unlocked one and sign up with a GSM provider. That can't be done with VMUSA or any other CDMA provider, so it is really off topic to keep bringing it up in this subforum.
And $650 for a phone is obscene. If you really need power, buy a laptop.
I'm sorry, by "low-end" I mean badly crippled with only 16GB of storage, ever. The same 16GB. No removable storage, no removable battery, and if you don't like that you had darn sure start saving an extra $100-200 ahead of time. (32GB microSD cards cost $20-40, obviously Apple doesn't give a rip about actual costs vs perceived ones.)I could tell you more about the failures of Apple's capabilities, but if you want an argument about that I have an inbox for a reason.
But you can't tell anything to Wall St, it's faithful (even if blind) following about it's failures or argue with Apples earnings.
Originally Posted by primetechv2
"If you have the means" -- if you're one of the rich elite that drops money needlessly all over the place? Again, you're talking about a $650 phone, theoretically on a $25/month plan. Those prices don't make any sense.
Spot on, if the gates from Apple Heaven opened up to prepaid carriers you can be assured said carriers would institute dramatically higher plans. Why? Because they can.
Apple enjoys an elitist image because they can. People overpay for their Desktops, Laptops, Notebooks, Tablets, iPods, etc. I saw (just yesterday) an ad on Craigslist for someone looking for an EVO3D and wanted to trade a 4S 16GB for it. I did the math, knew it was a home run and made the trade. I kept the phone for 18 hours and while nice, no thanks I'm hooked on Android.
Posted it on Craigslist, sold it in less than an hour for 200 above what I paid for the EVO 3D.
I'm back on my spare Nexus S 4G until I can find a fire sale for a Galaxy s2 or Photon which I have no doubt I will.
Point is, I could not have done that with any other device. Is the phone worth the money? Absolutely not but they must figure the "average" prepaid customer is not going to shell out the money for one nor will Apple let its margins take a hit to make it more affordable on prepaid.
....obscene. If you really need power, buy a laptop.
"Off topic"? ... This is the "Virgin Mobile Phones, anything goes thread". .... You must have missed the "anything goes" part...
"Anything goes" ... including your attempts at censorship, regarding speculative thoughts about upcoming Virgin Mobile devices.
Does Virgin Mobile USA sell laptops? (It looks like you are somewhat way off topic at this time if they do not, however, perhaps a shinny new Apple 3G iPad2 would make your suggestion more relevant to the thread when Virgin Mobile introduces them.)
Care to place a bet that it won't be added to the lineup in 2012?
There's a good chance it will. Eventually there will be one somewhere. OTOH, nobody seems to care that there's no Windows phone. IIRC, VMUSA didn't even have Android until about 15 months ago.
As far as bleeding edge phones go, the customer savvy enough to use one should also be savvy enough to find an unlocked handset. T-Mobile will let you have 4G unlimited for $30 a month.
Given Sprint's recent contract with Apple, if it starts looking like they won't reach the goal, you can bet they will put it on prepaid to move those phones.
Given the numbers involved, I would say we have a pretty darn good chance at it. They agreed to a lot of Iphones, to the extent that it would be detrimental to the rest of their phone lines if some were not offloaded to their prepaid brands.
There has been lots of talk of them on prepaid for a bit, people also under-estimate how many cell phones are on prepaid. It's estimated nearly three quarters are pre-paid now.
By the way, Simple Mobile has had the Iphone on prepaid for months so the whole "Apple wouldn't allow it" argument is null and void and has been for months. http://www.mysimplemobile.com/Phones/brand/Apple
There has been lots of talk of them on prepaid for a bit, people also under-estimate how many cell phones are on prepaid. It's estimated nearly three quarters are pre-paid now.
By the way, Simple Mobile has had the Iphone on prepaid for months so the whole "Apple wouldn't allow it" argument is null and void and has been for months. http://www.mysimplemobile.com/Phones/brand/Apple
689.00 for an UNSUPPORTED, iPhone 4 (not a 4S) must be selling really well.
Apple may not care who uses the device but there are some very different issues with a CDMA device.
Most notably, the software programing. Even something as simple as Sprint's picture mail is a very different (and actually terrible) mms client which Boost and Virgin do not use.
I'm not so sure Sprint will not meet their commitment (see post 61) however I think it would be great to put the 4 on prepaid and keep the 4S (for now) on postpaid. When the 5 comes out, send the 4S down.
Sell it with a "special" iPhone plan (something like 65 a month unlimited everything) and put it to rest.
There's a good chance it will. Eventually there will be one somewhere. OTOH, nobody seems to care that there's no Windows phone. IIRC, VMUSA didn't even have Android until about 15 months ago.
As far as bleeding edge phones go, the customer savvy enough to use one should also be savvy enough to find an unlocked handset. T-Mobile will let you have 4G unlimited for $30 a month.
nice 4G for $30/month @ t-mobile...
too bad the iPhone remains a 3G device....
t-mobile will once again lead the prepaid wireless sector this year, now that the whole at&t buyout/merger nonsense has been put to sleep.
Sprint/Virgin Mobile will need to add numerous devices and services in addition to any Apple products to counter t-mobiles prepaid efforts during 2012.
It's going to be another great year for prepaid wireless services in the United States, yet again.
689.00 for an UNSUPPORTED, iPhone 4 (not a 4S) must be selling really well.
**snip***
The iPhone is already on prepaid... albeit unofficially.
Just get a mint iphone4 on ebay for less that $300, buy the Straight Talk E71 for 49 bucks and activate it. Take the e71 sim card and put it in the iPhone, download and install the file that activates the data, and you are good to go. Straighttalk unlimited everthing costs only 42 bucks a month if you buy 3 months at a time.
The iPhone is already on prepaid... albeit unofficially.
Just get a mint iphone4 on ebay for less that $300, buy the Straight Talk E71 for 49 bucks and activate it. Take the e71 sim card and put it in the iPhone, download and install the file that activates the data, and you are good to go. Straighttalk unlimited everthing costs only 42 bucks a month if you buy 3 months at a time.
The benefits of GSM!
That's the way it's done and done smart . Red Pocket and Jolt are good choices also. You run the risk of having data turned off on ST if you use too much data on any given day or collectively during your billing cycle.
Originally Posted by soylentgreen77
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