The clock is ticking for Sprint, the only U.S. carrier that hasn’t established a way to eventually offer the iPhone. First, there was only AT&T, then Verizon and now potentially T-Mobile USA, if a $39 billion acquisition by AT&T is approved. Although T-Mobile says it won’t offer the Apple handset for around 12 months, Sprint is already calling ‘foul.’
“The merger would result in a wireless industry dominated overwhelmingly by two vertically-integrated companies that control almost 80 percent of the U.S. wireless post-paid market, as well as the availability and price of key inputs such as backhaul and access needed by other wireless companies to compete,” Sprint bemoaned in a statement.
However, Sprint isn’t standing still. What’s the best way to compete with iPhone-enabled rivals? Google, of course. So it came as little surprise when Sprint announced it will team up with the Mountain View, Calif. Internet giant to offer subscribers Google voice for the home and office phone, along with the computer.
Because Google Voice is a drop-in replacement of Sprint voicemail, the carrier’s subscribers won’t need another app.
Still unheard from is Google, itself. Sprint becomes the last iPhone-free carrier in the United States. Uncertain is how the iPhone’s introduction has hurt sales of Android-based smartphones and whether that potential erosion will spread with word of AT&T and T-Mobile combining forces.
[All Things Digital, 9 to 5 Mac, Fortune]
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
26 responses to “Sprint Cries ‘Foul’ Over AT&T’s $39B Acquisition of T-Mobile”
“Sprint becomes the last iPhone-free carrier in the United States”
…major carrier maybe. are you forgetting your Boosts and Virgins etc etc etc?
Boost and Virgin are Sprint brands
Sprint owns both Boost and Virgin Mobile, Metro PCS will soon flash the Verizon iPhone! All other minor carriers support GSM, which is already iphone ready locked or unlocked!
““The merger would result in a wireless industry dominated overwhelmingly by two vertically-integrated companies that control almost 80 percent of the U.S. wireless post-paid market, as well as the availability and price of key inputs such as backhaul and access needed by other wireless companies to compete,” Sprint bemoaned in a statement.”
But, isn’t that what a capitalist-based market potentially leads to? The calls for government to regulate such activities seems to imply a socialist agenda.
DAvid
I have no sympathy for any of these carriers. They all charge too much for the service they provide, find ways to screw with us on data caps, exaggerated coverage areas, unfair contract terms and penalties, etc. None of them cares about you or your experience once they have you locked down for 2 years of your life. They need to provide voice and data service and do it on a month to month basis only, and should support whatever handsets that we decide to buy. That would make the more competitive and customer service oriented.
this is what happens when your network technology is compatible with… NOTHING
if you mean Verizon is nothing then you are right.
US Cellular is also iPhone free let us not forget that US Cellular is one of the top providers where it has market share like Chicago, the Appalachian territory covering WV, VA, NC, SC and most of the mid-west. They may be behind with their choices in phones, but offer some of the best deals and prices on plans just as T-Mobile did for GSM customers. Offering free battery swap and data plans that start out as unlimited and cheaper than old AT&T and Verizon US Cellular should look to become Sprint meat if they want to continue to remain in the game.
What is needed here is a “game change” moment. And sprint and apple are in a prime position to do it right now.
Sprint announces that it will be ending native voice service on it’s network, which will be strictly data from now on. All voice service will be provided by VoIP providers. As a part of this, all phones on sprint going forward will be “smart” phones, and that they are going to upgrade their network to LTE with WiMax being used to build up backend.
Apple announces that it has developed a VoIP service which will be included into it’s new MobileMe suite of applications. They further announce that they that they are partnering with sprint and putting cell chips in all their computers. And they announce the iPhone mini, basically a slightly larger last generation iPod nano with a full front touch screen and wifi/cell chip, exclusively on sprint, priced around $350 new or $50 with a 2nd contract.
T-mobile has said they are not getting the iPhone. From their official Q&A about the merger posted at http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/a… they state:
Is T-Mobile USA getting the iPhone?
T-Mobile USA remains an independent company. The acquisition is expected to be completed in approximately 12 months. We do not offer the iPhone. We offer cutting edge devices like the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and coming soon our new Sidekick 4G.
Verizon’s upcoming numbers post iPhone 4 will show they have not gained any statistically meaningful number of customers since deploying that device on their network. And in fact surveys show that many Verizon iPhone 4 customers were former AT&T customers.
No. Many factors are at play in a capitalist market, and there is a spectrum between a 100% free-market and a 100% communist market. Take an economics 101 class and inform yourself before making such ridiculous statements in public. And, “Socialist agenda”– are you serious? You sound like Glenn Beck.
Do you seriously think Sprint is pissed because they aren’t getting the iPhone.. I own a couple Apple devices and can honestly say this site has the most pathetic journalism. T-Mobile isn’t getting the iPhone. Sprint isn’t getting the iPhone. They don’t NEED the iPhone. Ed Sutherland, maybe you should get a new hobby.. like writing a blog about horses.
What? Are you saying that the goal of a capitalist-based society is to create conditions for Socialism? That’s a lot of metal gymnastics. I think you could a vacation away from it all.