Despite recent rumors that Sprint will be one of the latest networks to carry the iPhone 5 remaining unconfirmed, Sprint Nextel CFO Joe Euteneuer has stated that Sprint is ready to handle Apple’s newest smartphone.
Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Entertainment and Communications conference Wednesday, Euteneuer detailed that in the midst of rumors, Sprint has been preparing for the possibility of supporting the iPhone 5.
“Steve [Elfman, president of Sprint’s network operations and wholesale,] and his team have been relentless on watching the existing network to make sure that we are spending the capital we need and to make sure we don’t create a bad user experience–irrespective of all the rumors,†he said.
“We’re going to stay ahead of it,†he added, speaking of the demand and network usage generated by selling the iPhone.
One of the biggest speculations is whether or not the iPhone 5 would have an unlimited data plan if it was carried by Sprint.
Euteneuer stated that keeping the unlimited data option is a matter of “managing the network properly.”
“If we got to a point where we thought that keeping an unlimited plan wasn’t going to create the profitable marketplace that we wanted, then we would have to look for change. But we think we have great runway room.”
In addition to Sprint, there are also rumors than T-Mobilewill be carrying the iPhone 5.
Other speculations indicate that the iPhone 5 will be fairly affordable and may be priced within the same range as the current iPhone 4.
There also remains a possibility that Apple will release two iPhones in the fall, one successor to the iPhone 4 and another cheaper prepaid model.
The iPhone 5 is expected to be available in stores in late September or early October.
[cp]
