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Sprint Commits to Buying $20 Billion Worth of iPhones, To Get Redesigned iPhone 5 Exclusively?

Monday October 3, 2011 11:54 am PDT by Eric Slivka

The Wall Street Journal reports the Sprint is preparing to "bet the company" on the iPhone, agreeing to purchase 30.5 million units over the next four years regardless of whether they are purchased by customers or not. At a current average selling price of $655 for the iPhone, the agreement is a nearly $20 billion commitment for Sprint.
Mr. Hesse told the board the carrier would have to agree to purchase at least 30.5 million iPhones over the next four years—a commitment of $20 billion at current rates—whether or not it could find people to buy them, according to people familiar with the matter. In order to keep the price people pay for the phone low and competitive with rivals, Sprint would be subsidizing the cost of each phone to the tune of about $500, which would take a long time to recoup even at the high monthly fees iPhone users pay.
With a source calling the projected hit to Sprint's operating income "staggering", the company's directors agreed to the deal as an all-in gamble to give Sprint hopes of competing against AT&T and Verizon.

The report notes that such commitments aren't unusual for Apple's carrier partners, demonstrating the leverage Apple has gained with the iPhone. With multi-year deals carrying unusual provisions for increasing units over time, Apple is locking in carriers for the long haul in much the same way that it has sought to lock in component suppliers for its hardware.


In the wake of the new report on Sprint's massive iPhone commitment, BGR separately reports that this development may lend weight to a claim it had heard that had previously seemed outrageous – that the iPhone 5 does indeed exist and that it will launch as a 4G WiMAX device as a Sprint exclusive.
I have been told that Sprint will be getting the iPhone 5 — yes the real iPhone 5, not the iPhone 4S — as an exclusive. And it will be a WiMAX device. AT&T and Verizon would launch the iPhone 4S and get the iPhone 5 sometime in the first quarter of next year as an LTE device. Globally, the iPhone 5 might be available as a 4G HSPA+ device.
The claim reportedly comes from an "incredibly solid" industry contact and is one which has seemed simply unbelievable. But with Sprint clearly betting the future of the company on the iPhone, it is at least possible that it may have gone to extreme lengths to make a staggering entrance to the iPhone market.

BGR's rumor record has been spotty over time, and it's hard to imagine Apple making this move. Still, we mention it for interest and discussion in the lead-up to tomorrow's media event.

[ 877 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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chrmjenkins
104 months ago
If this is all true and it actually works for Sprint, Hesse is going to need a wheelbarrow to cart his massive balls around in.
Rating: 64 Votes
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djrod
104 months ago
So Sprint sells the IPhone 5 and AT&T sells the cases ? :confused:
Rating: 48 Votes
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arn
104 months ago

I'm really torn right now... on one hand, it's the WSJ. They speak volumes and don't usually open their mouths unless they're very sure of their sources.

On the other hand, I can't believe Apple would do this. There isn't a single iPhone 4 user out there that has completed their 2-year contract with AT&T or Verizon. They'd be pissing in the faces of every single iPhone 4 user by not allowing them to upgrade without a ton of hassle.

As much as I trust the WSJ, I'm calling BS. This just doesn't add up, and I don't think Apple would screw this many customers for a few extra bucks. IMO, they'd lose more in iPhone 5 sales than what they'd make from Sprint!


Note there are 2 rumors here.

1. WSJ: Sprint committing $20 billion to Apple
2. BGR: Sprint as an iPhone 5 exclusive

They are separate sources, and honestly, of separate believability. But tied together in reasoning. Sprint is supposedly paying this $20 billion to get exclusivity.

arn
Rating: 44 Votes
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MacDawg
104 months ago
I can see Sprint being cut in, but not exclusively
Rating: 34 Votes
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whawhat
104 months ago
With Apple expanding the number of carriers that carry the iPhone worldwide, why would Apple take a step backward and make there #1 money making product available only on Sprint? It makes no sense.

Sprint carrying the iPhone starting Oct. 4th makes more sense.
Rating: 32 Votes
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oiuh151
104 months ago
Lol, BGR. When was the last time they got a rumor correct?
Rating: 25 Votes
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addicted44
104 months ago

I'm going to call bull. Apple went with AT&T because they were the only carrier in the US using the same tech as the rest of the world.


That isnt true. Apple went with AT&T (actually, Cingular) because they were the largest carrier that said yes to them. They approached Verizon first.
Rating: 19 Votes
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nickpro
104 months ago
AT MOST Sprint will have the benefit of 4G wimax over the verizon and ATT iPhones, but thats about it. no way in hell would Apple give them the exclusive "iPhone 5" redesign phone. no way.
Rating: 17 Votes
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DotCom2
104 months ago
Gawd!
I can't wait until tomorrow for all this to be over!
Rating: 17 Votes
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ddeadserious
104 months ago

LOL the announcement is tomorrow at 10 A.M. #FAIL


LOL did it occur to you that the world has different time zones?
Rating: 16 Votes

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