iPhone 5 to be Available on Sprint
The iPhone 5 will be available to Sprint-Nextel subscribers in mid-October, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sprint, along with AT&T and Verizon will all begin selling the next generation iPhone simultaneously this fall.
Originally the iPhone was exclusive to AT&T customers, but earlier this year Verizon made the iPhone 4 available on their service.
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With the iPhone now coming to Sprint, both Apple and the cell phone service provider should benefit financially from the new partnership.
Verizon has 106 million subscribers with AT&T just barely trailing behind with 99 million. Sprint provides for roughly half of their customer base with 52 million.
Sprint recently attributed a decline in subscribers to them not having the iPhone available for its users.
This iPhone 5 will help Sprint to retain many of its customers who are looking to upgrade to the popular device, according to Richard Doherty, director of research firm Envisioneering Group.
He told The Wall Street Journal that the iPhone will increase foot traffic in Sprint stores, which should help the company sell high-margin iPhone accessories.
“Sprint needs it,” said Mr. Doherty. “There are a lot of families that will embrace the iPhone.”
Apple plans to hold an event in September which will reveal the details of the iPhone 5.
The next generation iPhone is expected to be slightly thinner than its predecessor, and will sport a larger touch screen and an 8 megapixel digital camera.
Apple is also expected to release a cheaper pre-paid version of the iPhone 4.
Pre-orders for the new devices are slated to begin by the end of September, according to the latest rumors.
The iPhone 5 is expected to be released early-mid October.
Apple’s new iOS 5 will also be available in the fall.
