Sprint CFO Says Carrier Could Get 4G LTE iPhone, If Apple Makes One

by Jennifer Johnson — Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT

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.

Tags: Cell Phone, Mobile, Apple, iPhone, smartphone, LTE, Sprint, wireless, Cellphone, 4G

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer grew up around technology. From an early age, she was curious about all things related to computers. As a child, Jennifer remembers spending nights with her dad programming in BASIC and taking apart hard drives to see what was inside. In high school, she wrote her senior term paper on her experiences with building custom computers.

Jennifer graduated from the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After college, she began writing full-time for various PC and technology magazines. Later, she transitioned to the Web. In these roles, Jennifer has covered a variety of topics including laptops, desktops, smartphones, cameras, tablets, and various consumer electronics devices. When she's not playing with or writing about the latest gadget, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family, capture memories with her camera, and scrapbook.

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