iPhone 5 Release Date: Sprint Buys Exclusive Rights to iPhone 5 in $20B Deal?

(benm.at)
A mock-up of the iPhone 5.

By Ray Downs , Christian Post Reporter

October 4, 2011|10:33 am

Several media outlets have reported on an alleged deal between Sprint and Apple with the telecommunications giant agreeing to purchase 30 millon iPhone 5’s over the next four years in a deal worth approximately $20 billion.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the deal is done and, within the terms of the agreement, Sprint wouldn't be expected to make money selling the iPhone until 2014.

However, a Sprint spokesperson said that the deal could not be confirmed, according to the Los Angeles Times.

However, BoyGeniusReport says that the deal is even more intricate than WSJ has reported. According to BGR, Sprint will be getting the iPhone 5 as an exclusive and it will also have WiMax 4G. That means that other networks, like AT&T and Verizon, will only be able to get the iPhone 4S for now and will not be able to get the iPhone 5 until next year.

BGR also reports that the for-Sprint-only iPhone 5 will have the following features:

• Faster CPU.
• Larger 4-inch screen, similar to LG’s NOVA display but with a higher resolution.
• 1GB of RAM.
• Slightly larger design overall, but thinner and with a larger battery.
• 32GB of storage.
• iPhone 5 exclusive software and APIs (Assistant).
• Dedicated Assistant button, possibly integrated with the new home button, “think gestures or a two-stage button like a camera shutter key).

However, Gizmodo says that BGR’s story is “unbelievably wild and does not believe that a deal of this magnitude could be kept secret for so long. Time will only tell and it will be told at today’s 1 p.m. Apple event.