Sprint CFO Says Carrier Could Get 4G LTE iPhone, If Apple Makes One
Assuming Apple makes a 4G LTE-equipped iPhone at some point in the future, Sprint is open to selling such a device. At an investor conference, Sprint's Chief Financial Officer Joe Euteneuer indicated Sprint is free to offer an iPhone with LTE technology though he declined to say if Apple actually had such a phone planned.
Euteneuer also indicated Sprint's contract with Apple is similar to the contracts Apple has with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Additionally, Sprint isn't being held to any 4G LTE coverage requirements.
Sprint intends to roll out its 4G LTE network in six cities by the middle of this year. Speaking about Sprint's LTE build out, Euteneuer said, "If you make the assumption that they [Apple] launch a device at a similar time that they did last year, you're basically done with the major markets…. So I don't think we are really disadvantaged at all."
Sprint has taken a gamble on Apple's iPhone, committing to $15.5 billion worth of iPhones over the next several years. The wireless carrier doesn't expect to turn a profit on the smartphone until 2015.