iPhone 5 to launch on Sprint

Sprint will begin selling the iPhone 5 in mid-October alongside Verizon Wireless and AT&T, according to a new report. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reports that the mid-October simultaneous launch is later than expected, and will come too late to contribute sales to the company’s fiscal fourth quarter. In addition to the iPhone 5, the report indicates that Sprint will launch sales of the iPhone 4 at the same time. The report suggests that the move may help Sprint to retain customers, as the company blamed a second quarter decline in contract subscribers on “the first full quarter both major competitors offered the iPhone.” A report from June indicated that a Sprint iPhone was in advanced testing.