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Will rumored iPhone 5 deal be game-changer for Sprint?

Sprint will reportedly begin selling Apple?s upcoming iPhone 5 in October ? a move that brings the carrier closer to its rivals AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless. However, will the much-anticipated device change the company?s position in the competitive mobile space?

According to several reports, Apple will unveil the new iPhone 5 in the coming weeks. The company has not released an official date as of yet.

?I think the iPhone 5 is going to have more impact for Sprint than these two carriers ? Verizon and AT&T,? said Michael Morgan, senior analyst for mobile devices at ABI Research.

?It will be very interesting to see what Sprint does once they [have the] iPhone and whether they will switch all their services to a tiered platform,? he said.

Competitions arise
If Sprint will begin selling Apple?s iPhone 5 this fall, it will certainly be a big win for the company.

Apple?s devices are increasingly gaining momentum with consumers.

?Right now the one key part of Sprint?s smartphone business that they?re missing is the iPhone,? Mr. Morgan said.

Additionally, it is all about data.

Consumers are all about data and consume a large amount of it on their mobile devices daily.

If Sprint will sell the iPhone 5, they might have to switch their unlimited plans to tiered ? to not only keep up with competitors such as AT&T and Verizon ? but also to keep up with the increasing amount of data consumption. 

?Of course if you have an iPhone, you have highly profitable data plans,? Mr. Morgan said. ?This does move even more of your customers who are data hogs.

?With the Android devices already on there, you have to wonder how much free space and network capacity is going to be eating up with this,? he said.

Customer retention
Additionally, Sprint will have a two part play with the iPhone ? being able to retain customers that may have been inclined to switch providers to get the new smartphone and being able to attract new customers that may want to switch from AT&T or Verizon.

?I think that if the iPhone 5 were offered by Sprint, it would be a win for Sprint and a win for Apple,? said Joy Liuzzo, senior director of InsightExpress. ?Apple gets a larger distribution and customer base to compete against Android.

According to Ms. Liuzzo, this will be a golden opportunity for Sprint.

?If Sprint can go to market with hyper-competitive plans and offer improved 4G connection, they have real chance of gaining significant market share,? Ms. Liuzzo said.

If Sprint joins AT&T and Verizon in selling iPhone 5 devices, tactics will definitely come into play.

?I don?t think this will make or break either carrier but anytime a third player comes into the mix, it will require a change in tactics,? Ms. Liuzzo said. ?It?ll be interesting to watch the plans and incentives being offered.?

With all three carriers reportedly selling the iPhone 5 in October, the entire mobile ecosystem will feel the ripple effects, whether it is from rival carriers, marketers or device manufactures.

Additionally, with Apple?s device allegedly being offered to three carriers, Google?s Android operating system will be tested.

Arguably, one of Sprint?s most popular devices is the EVO.

With the iPhone 5 reportedly coming into play, more consumer may be inclined to buy Apple?s new smartphone, rather than an Android one.

?The Android has been holding up well for EVO devices,? ABI?s Mr. Morgan said. ?Sprint was the first to market with true 4G technology.

?If you want a 4G device you have to stand with Android and EVO,? he said. 
According to Mr. Morgan, Sprint has fallen in the dark horse road position where they need to take risks.

?They started trying to put out unique devices,? Mr. Morgan said. ?They?re trying to be that unique character.?

?More or less this is sort of expected,? he said. ?It?s a good thing for Sprint and a good thing for Apple, but not a game changer.?