Apple Rumors: Sprint Gets iPhone 5 in October

Sprint customers may be able to join the iPhone conversation if rumors of the wireless service provider getting the iPhone 5 from Apple in October turn out to be true.

Apple rumors always catch steam when a new iPhone is about to be released and nothing has changed with the iPhone 5 set for release in October. While it’s strictly rumor, the prospect of Sprint offering the iPhone 5 is a big deal.

The Business Insider originally reported that Sprint will be among AT&T and Verizon as carriers to sell the new iPhone 5. If the rumor turns into fact, selling the iPhone 5 would be a big plus for the nation’s third largest wireless service provider. For years Sprint has played second fiddle to AT&T, once sole carrier for the iPhone, and Verizon, who started selling the iPhone in February.

Sprint may be the next carrier to carry iPhone from Apple with rumors about the iPhone 5 being available in October. Photo by Yutaka Tsutano

Sprint has held their own even without the iPhone with their top-selling HTC Evo and Evo 3D. Even with sells of the HTC Evo and Evo 3D being high, they do not top the iPhone.

Verizon has sold 4.5 million Apple iPhones since February and AT&T has sold 7.2 million this year. With its two major competitors both offering the device, Sprint suffered a hard first quarter. Company officials have to be happy about the iPhone 5 rumors as Sprint stock increased today.

Technology fanatics say the speculation of Sprint getting the iPhone 5 shows credibility towards the device’s dual-network nature using both GSM and CDMA (which Verizon and Sprint operate on). The iPhone 5 is being trumpeted as the best iPhone yet (as have all the previous versions) and even comes with an earthquake warning service.

The Sprint Apple rumors carry more weight than service providers however. The news that Sprint could get the iPhone 5 in October means that the new phone will not be released in September as originally thought. Financial analysts say if the iPhone 5 is released in October the sales will not be included in the company’s fourth quarter results which end in September.

Should Sprint get the iPhone 5 they will also get the less popular iPhone 4 at the same time. This week it was announced that the iPhone 4 would be receiving a serious price reduction.