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The iPhone 4 is currently only available through AT&T and Verizon.

Sprint may be next in line to join Apple’s iPhone ranks.

It’s highly probable that a Sprint iPhone will debut before the year’s end, according to Shing Yin, an industry analyst at Citadel Securities.

Because Verizon is ending its unlimited data plans Thursday, and because Sprint features cheaper pricing for comparable plans on AT&T and Verizon, the carrier “could offer an attractive proposition for more price-conscious users (a demographic that we think is increasingly important to Apple following the rise of Android),” and “could be a relatively stronger seller than the Verizon iPhone,” according to Yin.

Yin’s report is careful to mention that he doesn’t think the actual device will be priced less than an iPhone from a competing carrier — just that Sprint’s service plans cost less.

Expanding to other carriers like Sprint and T-Mobile would help give Apple a leg up against increasing competition from Android, which by many reports show it outpacing Apple sales and taking up a large chunk of the smartphone market.

Now that Apple’s exclusive partnership with AT&T is over, it makes sense for the company to target the remaining big carriers in the United States to increase the iPhone’s presence.

“The main thing for Apple is increased distribution, which is more important now than when the iPhone was first released,” Yin told Wired.com in a phone interview. Distribution is a big advantage for Android phones, which are available in a multitude of models across multiple carriers, he added.

Apple rumors have increasingly focused on the company potentially releasing a more affordable iPhone for the masses. A statement by Apple COO Tim Cook saying that the company is “not ceding any market” seems to be the catalyst for much of the speculation, including the idea that there may be two new iPhone models in September. Currently, an unlocked iPhone 4 without a data plan goes for a whopping $650.

Although Yin’s analysis is primarily speculation based on industry trends, a May report from AllThingsD from another analyst, Peter Misek, agrees that Apple’s next iPhone won’t be limited to AT&T and Verizon.

“Industry checks indicate AAPL has or is about to announce new carrier deals in time for the holidays with T-Mobile and Sprint,” Misek wrote. “Additionally, we believe another China carrier could launch the iPhone in the next 12 months.” On Apple’s last earnings call, management was asked about launching the CDMA iPhone at other carriers, and responded: “We are constantly looking and adding where it makes sense, and you can keep confidence that we’ll continue to do that.”

And although competitors Verizon and AT&T would likely be displeased by Apple sharing the iPhone wealth with other carriers, they would be “unlikely to attempt to block Sprint from getting the iPhone,” according to Yin.

Yin also says he wouldn’t rule out T-Mobile from selling the iPhone in the near future, as well. Since Sprint is the next largest carrier after Verizon and AT&T, it makes sense that Apple would open the iPhone to their customer base next. “I would expect a T-Mobile iPhone soon after, though,” Yin says.

In two days, the unlimited data tap at Verizon is officially going to run dry, essentially ending the all-too-brief era of all-you-can-eat data at the nation’s two largest carriers. More »

Looks like some of the Skype crew might’ve had a sleepless night to please owners of the Nexus S 4G. If you’ll recall, June 30th saw a major update to its Android app enabling video chat on four devices; although the Nexus S was part of the club, its door was locked for Sprint’s 4G variant. That’s quickly changed, however, as the team’s set loose a hotfix to grant it access — this despite initially stating we’d have to wait for a “future release.” You can grab the app from the Android Market if you haven’t yet, and be sure to let us know how it goes in comments. Oh, and for those anxious Thunderbolt owners? We’d recommend not holding your breath until after the 4th of July holiday.

Skype 2.0 hotfix enables video chat on Sprint’s Nexus S 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint seems to think its 4G tech would make an excellent replacement for the old-school T-1 lines many businesses have been relying on to keep them connected to the web since the 1970s. You may remember that WiMAX was originally pitched as a “last mile” solution as well as the next generation of mobile broadband. Well, the wireless carrier rocking black and yellow is taking the plunge on fixed-access 802.16 and targeting enterprise customers. The speeds are the same that everyone toting an Evo is already accustomed to (3 to 6Mbps down and 2.5Mbps up), but with a guaranteed 99.95 percent availability. When compared to traditional wired business connections, WiMAX is both both quicker to deploy and cheaper to operate, but Sprint will certainly face an uphill battle in trying to convince businesses to ditch the tried-and-true T-1. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1

Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No longer must you be a member of Sprint’s Premier Club to get your hands on the EVO 3D. At long last, the proverbial floodgates are open allowing you, dear reader, to rush to your local shop and acquire one for $200 — provided you’re willing to commit to a two year contract. Arriving on shelves alongside the glasses-free 3D handset is the HTC EVO View 4G, the Taiwanese company’s 7-inch tablet that (for the time being) comes packaged with the fancy Scribe stylus for $400. You’ll find PR after the break but, who are you kidding, there’s no time for reading — there’s shopping to be done.

Continue reading EVO 3D and EVO View 4G now available to the non-Premier masses

EVO 3D and EVO View 4G now available to the non-Premier masses originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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