Sprint has announced that it will begin selling the iPad mini + LTE and the fourth-generation iPad + LTE from today, November 16. It promises a range of “attractive” data plans that will connect customers to its super speedy 4G network, which are all available without a contract.
The last few weeks have been a bit rocky for Apple and its new CEO Tim Cook, but that hasn’t stopped it from enjoying record breaking successes thanks to the iPhone 5 and iPad.
Every year the people at Fierce Wireless rank the top 25 most powerful people in the U.S. wireless industry, and for their rankings this year Tim Cook managed to grab the number one spot.
When you order an iPhone 5 from Apple’s website the current shipment timeline is 3-4 weeks. Foxconn’s chairman Terry Gou recently said that they’re having a hardtime keeping up with the demand because the iPhone 5 is the most complex gadget they’ve ever assembled.
It doesn’t sound like Apple is able to catch up with the demand for the iPhone 5 in a timely manner, but one analyst at BTIG Research says that supply of the iPhone 5 is “almost in balance.”
![The Right Way To Survive Launch Lines And Get Your iPad Mini First [Feature]](http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
![The Right Way To Survive Launch Lines And Get Your iPad Mini First [Feature]](http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/applestore11.jpg "applestore1")
Previous iPad launches have been crazy, and the iPad mini might be the most insane one yet. Be prepared.
So you didn’t pre-order your iPad mini, huh? It’s ok. Even though online orders aren’t shipping for 2 – 3 weeks now you can still get an iPad mini tomorrow if you gear up and go brave the launch line
Yes, it’s a huge time investment, and no one really wants to sit outside an Apple Store for a couple of hours before the break of dawn, but we’re here to help you make the most of your iPad mini launch line waiting experience. In fact, this could even be a lot of fun. Just follow this guide and you’ll be in and out of the store and cradling your iPad mini in no time.
Along with AT&T yesterday, Sprint tosay has announced their third quarter 2012 results, and activated 1.5 million iPhones during that period, 40% of whom are new customers… essentially the same number of new iPhones per quarter Sprint has maintained for the entire year of 2012 to date.
It wasn’t all sunny, though. The company reported a net loss of $767 million for the third quarter against $7.3 billion in revenues.
T-Mobile is now the only major carrier in the United States that doesn’t offer the iPhone, because Apple’s device isn’t compatible with its 3G network. However, that could be about to change. One analyst believes that T-Mobile will finally get its chance to offer the iPhone 5 from early 2013.
SoftBank, Japan’s third-largest carrier, has this morning announced that it will acquire Sprint in a deal worth $20.1 billion. The company will purchase $8 billion in newly-issues shares from Sprint, in addition to $12.1 billion in existing shares — giving it a 70% stake overall.
Japan’s third-largest carrier is reportedly in talks to buy control of Sprint, according to two people familiar with the matter. SoftBank wants to snap up two-thirds of the company with a stake worth “more than” 1.5 trillion yen ($19 billion), and it’s also eyeing Sprint’s partner, Clearwire, too.
Sometimes 10-digits can be a few too many numbers to remember or too boring to want to remember. That’s why Sprint has decided to spice up your phone number with its new StarStar Me service. Forget those boring digits and have people call you using a unique name or handle. Perhaps all your friends know you as the baconater and you want to keep it that way. Simply sign up for the number **baconater and allow anyone with an iPhone or Android-powered smartphones to call you by dialing **baconater.
If you woke up late and missed your chance to pre-order the iPhone 5 from Apple before shipping estimates slipped, then don’t worry; there’s still a chance you’ll be able to get a handset delivered to your door on launch day. At things stand, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint are still promising iPhone 5 delivery on September 21, but you’ll have to be quick.
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![T-Mobile Expected To Offer iPhone 5 In Early 2013 [Report]](http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Screen-Shot-2012-10-16-at-15.34.48.jpg "T-Mobile-iPhone")
