Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#1

Post by nicksergeant » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 6:42 PM UTC

Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone
online.wsj.com

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#2

Post by steve-howard » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 6:54 PM UTC

I like my Sprint service. The reception is far from legendary, but it's there, and the data is unlimited. If I wanted an iPhone, I'd do what everyone else does and switch to AT&T (and now Verizon). I suspect that folks who really care that it's an iPhone and not an Android (or potentially WP7, if that ever gets off the ground) have already made their move.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#3

Post by Urgo » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 6:59 PM UTC

I know I'm surely in the minority here but back in August I was so fed up with AT&T that I spent most of the month planning a move to Sprint. I was in and out of stores, researching phones online, talking to friends and more. Even with their poor coverage (my parents live in western mass and basically that entire side of the state is a black hole for sprint) I was so close to making the switch, at least for a one month trial.

The main reason I wanted to switch to Sprint was they seemed to be really for the consumer and pushed that they offered Unlimited Data. Most months I stay under 5gb (though its close) on my android phone but occasionally I travel and do use quite a bit more.

Before I did sign up though the rumors started coming out about the iphone coming to sprint which I immediately predicted would kill their unlimited data deal, which though its not on the phones themselves yet has been enforced on hotspot users.

I know people love their iphones but I just really hate how it is ruining networks for everyone. Every network they move to kills their unlimited data plan with their arrival. :(

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#4

Post by xsmasher » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:02 PM UTC

steve-howard wrote: post #2

I like my Sprint service. The reception is far from legendary, but it's there, and the data is unlimited. If I wanted an iPhone, I'd do what everyone else does and switch to AT&T (and now Verizon). I suspect that folks who really care that it's an iPhone and not an Android (or potentially WP7, if that ever gets off the ground) have already made their move.

"Unimited data" might be an distinguishing feature they can press. I know I a lot of iPhone+ATT users, but none who tether. Too expensive.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#5

Post by kenjackson » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:02 PM UTC

steve-howard wrote: post #2

I like my Sprint service. The reception is far from legendary, but it's there, and the data is unlimited. If I wanted an iPhone, I'd do what everyone else does and switch to AT&T (and now Verizon). I suspect that folks who really care that it's an iPhone and not an Android (or potentially WP7, if that ever gets off the ground) have already made their move.

I like Sprint too, but I disagree. Sprint's pricing has historically been too good to leave to another carrier. Even you want an iPhone -- can you really justify the price hike for it? It's actually a much better deal, even in the short term, to get an iPad with 3G than move your cell phone service to ATT (especially if you have a family plan like I do).

I think if the iPhone comes with the same price plans as today you'll see Sprint sell a boatload of iPhones.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#6

Post by mgkimsal » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:05 PM UTC

steve-howard wrote: post #2

I like my Sprint service. The reception is far from legendary, but it's there, and the data is unlimited. If I wanted an iPhone, I'd do what everyone else does and switch to AT&T (and now Verizon). I suspect that folks who really care that it's an iPhone and not an Android (or potentially WP7, if that ever gets off the ground) have already made their move.

Agreed, and I think we saw as much with the iPhone arrival to Verizon. Yeah, it was a bump for Verizon, but not a tidal wave. Most people who wanted it had moved. That said, I think there were some holdouts who were unsure about getting an iPhone4 so close to the supposed summer release of an iPhone5, so that probably depressed the Verizon numbers a bit too. Bringing iPhone to Sprint so soon after a new announcement should take some of that uncertainty away.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#7

Post by jcampbell1 » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:05 PM UTC

It sounds like Sprint is going to start a price war with Verizon and AT&T. Music to my ears.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#8

Post by jinushaun » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:11 PM UTC

If Sprint keeps unlimited data for at least the 2 years that I'll be on contract, I'll sign up for Sprint the day the iPhone 5 is available. Sprint needs to compete on price and unlimited data to compete with Big Red and Big Blue and stay alive.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#9

Post by biot » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:12 PM UTC

  > "Five years ago, the Motorola Razr was the top-selling phone," says
  > Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin. "Imagine trying to sell 6 
  > million of them today."

The thing about the RAZR is that it was a sleek, small form factor. I don't remember anyone who had one tout its functionality as the reason they got it. So the next sleek phone or better featured phone could easily displace it. The iPhone on the other hand combines excellent engineering of its hardware with tremendous strength in the software; not to mention the brand cachet. That's a significant competitive advantage and is harder to displace.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#10

Post by Skroob » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:14 PM UTC

I'm not sure I understand. Is Sprint planning on undercutting the "regular" subsidized cost of the iPhone? Because otherwise, unless they're going to do something that really stands out, it seems like a case of "the only way to beat them is to be exactly like them".