WSJ: Sprint places $20 billion order for next iPhone, hinges company future on Apple'

[HotelUser]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/s...inges-company/

Oh, iFaithful, your newest Apple phone(s) are only a day away. Which is even more reason to hunker down into this latest chunk of pre-announcement gossip. According to information obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Sprint's betting the farm on a 30 million-plus order of next-generation iPhones to put it on an even battle ground with heavyweight rivals AT&T and Verizon. The cost of this loss-absorbing gamble? That would be about $20 billion, with the Hesse-led co. subsidizing the $500 cost of each handset. For the third place operator it's matter of do-or-die, as there really isn't an alternative to the critically-praised, Jony Ive-designed handset that set off this smartphone race. Hesse's purported admission to the company's board that customer churn is directly linked to its iPhone omission only serves to underscore the uncomfortable plight his company faces. It remains to be seen if Sprint can convert its base of 52 million subscribers (mostly pre-paid) into the contracted customers it needs to stay financially afloat. While an iPhone on Sprint certainly seems a given, it's unclear whether this next device will opt for a WiMAX or LTE radio.

That is going to be one very highly sold handset.

[AgnesIO]

Seems like a huge risk, but really they will sell that phone like mad either way.

If Apple come out with a dual core, 1.5Ghz handset I would be amazed - but pleased - that would probably be my next phone. They really need to release what is around now, as opposed to the one year old specs (cough 1Ghz processor likely) - either way it will sell loads.

Looking forward to the release tomorrow, and the big conversation that will occur on here haha

[HotelUser]

Three years have passed so my contract is done soon, I could upgrade if I wanted to do another three years.

[Mr-Trainor]

Like I said on MacRumors when I saw this article earlier, I'm not expecting this to become a reality really and would be surprised if it was exclusive to Sprint; but then I suppose it's possible .

[Metric1]

Sprint is a horrible phone company. They only just started offering higher end phones and they only give you $250 for signing on for 2 years... ALSO they don't have 4G where I live.

[AgnesIO]

Sprint is a horrible phone company. They only just started offering higher end phones and they only give you $250 for signing on for 2 years... ALSO they don't have 4G where I live.

Sorry, I don't understand - not sure if we have that in England. What do you mean by "they only give us $250 for signing on for two years"? What do you mean by them giving you money - confused haha

[Metric1]

they only give you $250 off the price of the phone

[AgnesIO]

they only give you $250 off the price of the phone

Ooh

Not sure there is a fixed price off in the UK - I might be wrong though :S Here it just depends on how much you pay per month etc.