In the face of both AT&T and Verizon Wireless expected to offer the iPhone 5 at launch, how does Sprint intend to compete if it gets Apple’s next smartphone too? The answer is either very clever or network crushing: the mobile network operator intends to offer unlimited data plans to every customer that signs an iPhone 5 contract.
Unlimited data is something that has been scaled back of late by other networks, much to the anger of consumers, many of whom see the web and associated services as their main use for a smartphone. The reasoning behind the limits is one of keeping the network from getting bogged down by data hogs who go well beyond acceptable use limits.
If Sprint does intend to offer unlimited data it is sure to be met with an initial flood of interest. However, unless Sprint has a sanity plan in place for dealing with the flood of data over its network, initial enthusiasm for the offer could be replaced with frustration if connections start dropping and data transfers slow to a crawl. Maybe Sprint plans to adopt the full-duplex system from Rice University to help with capacity.
Of course, until Apple and Sprint officially announce the iPhone 5 is coming to the network this is nothing but speculation. However, if Sprint does go down the unlimited data route, surely both Verizon and AT&T would have to react? That could potentially open the market up again for a lot more data for a lot less money over what we have to pay today.
The introduction of the iPhone 5 is likely to bring with it a requirement for more data transfers per user simply because of the new features on offer, most notably iCloud. Whichever networks end up getting Apple’s smartphone, handling capacity of what is certain to be a very popular phone will be the biggest challenge, as will meeting demand for the phone in the first place.
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