Sprint CEO Says iPhone Extends Ability to Offer Unlimited Data

In an interview with Forbes following his company's earnings release, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse noted that the iPhone will actually enable the carrier to continue offering unlimited data plans for a longer period of time than it otherwise would have.

Sprint is still not saying when it may make that switch, but credits the iPhone for helping it push the date out further. “One of the beauties of carrying the iPhone is it extends the period of time and increases the likelihood of us maintaining unlimited data longer because it uses our network so efficiently,” said Hesse.

Hesse notes that the iPhone is better at picking up Wi-Fi signals than Android devices are, allowing users to spend more time connecting via Wi-Fi than placing demands on Sprint's cellular data network.

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He also claims that Apple's tight control over iPhone apps and its requirement that those apps meet certain network efficiency standards helps Sprint's network operate more efficiently. According to Barron's, Sprint claims that the iPhone may offer 50% more network efficiency than Android handsets.

Finally, Hesse indicates that Sprint has made a $15.5 billion commitment to Apple for iPhones, targeting sales of six million units per year over the four-year term of the deal.

Sprint is the only U.S. carrier to offer unlimited data for the iPhone. Both AT&T and Verizon had offered unlimited data at the time of their respective iPhone launches, but both carriers have since migrated to tiered data plans designed to charge high-usage customers more.

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Top Rated Comments

f00f Avatar
151 months ago

One of the beauties of carrying the iPhone is it extends the period of time and increases the likelihood of us maintaining unlimited data longer because it uses our network so efficiently

0.2Mbps != efficient. 0.2Mbps == crap.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wordoflife Avatar
151 months ago
I don't understand this logic, but regardless, that's good to know. Now, just make your speeds faster!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RetepNamenots Avatar
151 months ago
I guess it makes sense, but this would be the case for all networks with the iPhone (not just Sprint), so it sounds like a bit of marketing to me.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yadmonkey Avatar
151 months ago
This guy sure loves plugging the iPhone.

You would too if you just invested $20 billion in stocking them.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
daxomni Avatar
151 months ago
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse noted that the iPhone will actually enable the carrier to continue offering unlimited data plans for a longer period of time than it otherwise would have. Hesse notes that the iPhone is better at picking up Wi-Fi signals than Android devices are, allowing users to spend more time connecting via Wi-Fi than placing demands on Sprint's cellular data network.
MacRumors seems to have a chronic problem misusing words like "noted" when it would be FAR more accurate to write "claimed" instead. Listening to a CEO give questionable technical answers to explain opaque business decisions is like listening to a vegetarian give advice on which cut of steak is best. Seriously MacRumors, you seem to have a love affair with a word that at best needlessly confuses the issue and at worst intentionally misrepresents the situation.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WannaGoMac Avatar
151 months ago
Also speed of sprints network helps!

Yes and Sprint's network is so slow (even for a CDMA network) they can give almost everyone unlimited data for a long time. Just add more users and let the speeds go down, no big deal right?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)