Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone • Hacker News Board

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#71

Post by rtrunck » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 10:36 PM UTC

henrikschroder wrote: post #40

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.

Why wouldn't you buy an unlocked iPhone?

Maybe I'm missing something, but why bye an unlocked phone? You pay more up front and the same monthly fee for network access. Is it just the contract you don't want to enter?

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#72

Post by ary » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 10:53 PM UTC

ary wrote: post #46

kenjackson wrote: post #25

BGR is reporting that the iPhone5 may be a Sprint exclusive. That's pretty big for Sprint. Explains why Sprint has been completely mum about Windows Phone Mango. If this is true, it might be time for me to leave Sprint. http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/03/sprint-guarantees-to-buy-over-...

The likelihood of Apple giving Sprint an exclusive to their newest device this late in the game (ie, they're not an unknown quantity like they were in 2007) is highly unlikely. Where one to entertain this crazy notion though the reasoning could center around Sprint's WiMAX deployment and the iPhone 5's need for higher bandwidth. Should the much rumored "Assistant" feature of the new iPhone require a bigger pipe to th…

Were one... gah.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#73

Post by Lewisham » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 10:57 PM UTC

jwallaceparker wrote: post #64

acslater00 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Apple made the iphone5 a Sprint exclusive, it would be unavailable to every single one of their existing customers. Literally...Every...Single...One. There's a better chance that Tim Cook will eat an iPhone than announce a Sprint exclusive.

Customers are loyal to the iPhone, not the network it runs on. I left Sprint to get an iPhone. If I need to rejoin Sprint to get the next iPhone, that's no problem.

I wonder how true this is outside techies. I'm personally network-agnostic, as I only use my "phone" for data and calls from the wife. I use about 100 minutes a month, so it doesn't matter.

My wife, however, makes at least 60 minutes of calls on more days than not, keeping in touch with friends and family (basically all the social lubrication I do with email and Google+). For her, the network effect is incredibly strong: all her friends and family are on Verizon, so she is very hesitant to switch as she gets the in-network minutes free. It was a huge deal for her when I announced I wanted to leave Verizon (for a Virgin Mobile Android) and how many minutes that would add to her plan.

I think a lot of people are loyal to their network not because of what they get from it, but about the people they know on it.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#74

Post by calloc » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:04 PM UTC

rtrunck wrote: post #71

henrikschroder wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why wouldn't you buy an unlocked iPhone?

Maybe I'm missing something, but why bye an unlocked phone? You pay more up front and the same monthly fee for network access. Is it just the contract you don't want to enter?

T-Mobile has discounts for bring your own type plans... I for example am on one of those plans with my iPhone 3G (jailbroken.)

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#75

Post by andrewljohnson » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:10 PM UTC

If Sprint gets an exclusive on iPhone 5, there is going to be severe backlash. I know many people waiting to upgrade their phone until iPhone 5 comes out, and they aren't going to switch to Sprint to do it.

This would be a betrayal of all of their customers holding iPhone 3G/3GS/4 waiting to upgrade on Verizon or AT&T, and it will be a big chink in the armor for Android to exploit.

It would annoy me as a developer too.

For these reasons, I sort of find it hard to believe that an exclusive is possible, but I guess $20B is a lot of money.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#76

Post by ceejayoz » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:25 PM UTC

wmeredith wrote: post #26

joe_bleau wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure about that? I thought the moto ROKR was the one that would connect to iTunes. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_ROKR )

You are correct and the product was a complete dog.

The Jobs presentation showing it off is quite entertaining. You can tell he hates the thing.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#77

Post by suhlash » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:30 PM UTC

i am a sprint customer and i hate this move. the android market may be chaotic but there is more freedom for the user. this is a dangerous move for sprint. android will only gain in market shares baring any great upset in the current trends.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#78

Post by rads » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:33 PM UTC

jarek wrote: post #59

jfoutz wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. That's how mac works. The instant anyone ever purchases an apple product, they are irrevocably an apple zealot. Frankly, I'm surprised they haven't organized into a massive armed malita, given the amount of hatred and bigotry apple fanboys bring to a discussion. It seems like the complete solidarity of everyone to ever pass a credit card to Apple would make them a formidable force.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malita,_Davao_del_Sur ?

Militia

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#79

Post by jsz0 » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:42 PM UTC

Lewisham wrote: post #42

kenjackson wrote: post #25

BGR is reporting that the iPhone5 may be a Sprint exclusive. That's pretty big for Sprint. Explains why Sprint has been completely mum about Windows Phone Mango. If this is true, it might be time for me to leave Sprint. http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/03/sprint-guarantees-to-buy-over-...

I can believe this story. Apple spins it that Sprint is ready now, AT&T and Verizon need to get their LTE networks ready. It'll be a very public push. Apple has never shied away from telling their "partners" exactly how annoyed they are at [X] facet of their business. If this did happen, I'm not sure what the knock-on effect for Sprint is. Anyone who wants an iPhone has one. The Verizon thing is over. All those peopl…

All those millions of people who bought the 3GS when it was released are now at the end of their 2 year contract so it's a perfect time for Sprint to make a play for them. If they discount the upfront price of the iPhone, offer unlimited data, and $50/month service lots of people are going to jump.

Re: Sprint to 'Bet the Company' on iPhone

#80

Post by jsz0 » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 11:55 PM UTC

andrewljohnson wrote: post #75

If Sprint gets an exclusive on iPhone 5, there is going to be severe backlash. I know many people waiting to upgrade their phone until iPhone 5 comes out, and they aren't going to switch to Sprint to do it. This would be a betrayal of all of their customers holding iPhone 3G/3GS/4 waiting to upgrade on Verizon or AT&T, and it will be a big chink in the armor for Android to exploit. It would annoy me as a developer to…

Disagree.

There's no 3G/3GS on Verizon and exactly zero iPhone 4 Verizon customers are eligible for a subsidized upgrade yet. So it only affects the tiny number of customers who are going to pay $600 for an out-of-contract upgrade. The vast majority of Verizon iPhone owners would have to wait for their subsidized upgrade date which for most is March/April 2012 at the earliest.

For AT&T customers things are a bit more tricky. Any iPhone 4 owners are in the same boat as Verizon customers. Most won't have a subsidized upgrade available until late December. (if you have a more expensive plan with AT&T your upgrade date is earlier) This also goes for people who bought the 3GS in the last 14 months. The people who opted for the 3G in the last ~20 months decided to buy a low end model. For them the iPhone 4 or 4S would be the natural upgrade path and a massive upgrade.

No doubt there are some risks but I doubt Sprint would have a very long exclusivity period so even if Apple takes a beating for a month or two it will be of little consequence compared to $20B in the bank.