Sprint Nextel Corp., the nation’s third largest carrier is reportedly scheduled to add Apple’s iPhone to its lineup of mobile handsets this October. If true, the addition would go a long way in shoring up the maligned network’s sales. The timing of the announcement will likely coincide with the release of the heavily anticipated iPhone 5.
After Verizon’s acquisition of the iPhone 4 earlier this year, Sprint was left in a compromising situation, becoming the only one of the three largest carriers to not offer the device. Although it offers various high-end Android devices, like the Sprint Evo, many of Sprint’s customer’s have been flocking to AT&T and Verizon for the iPhone. At the end of 2011′s second quarter, Sprint had 52 million subscribers. This is in comparison to 106 and 99 million for Verizon and AT&T, respectively.
A corollary effect of a Sprint iPhone is greater leverage for AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile USA. AT&T could claim greater market parity to offset the concerns of a lack of market competition in the cellphone industry.
With Verizon, AT&T and Sprint to offer the iPhone 5, the already smartphone driven cellphone business looks like it will become even more reliant on them.
