T-Mobile 'Won't Comment' on Rumored iPhone 5 Delay; Sprint Alters Policy

A top T-Mobile executive reportedly has said the carrier will not get Apple's iPhone 5 this year.

According to a transcript from a recent public meeting at a T-Mobile field service center, Cole Broadman, chief marketing officer, revealed that the carrier will not “get the iPhone 5 this year”.

Reacting to the rumor, T-Mobile stated: “We don’t comment on rumors. We remain focused on expanding our portfolio of 4G smartphones. We look forward to sharing on Monday news about our latest and greatest product lineup.”

Rumors have speculated that Apple soon will unveil an iPhone 4S, which is considered to be an alternative for iPhone 4. T-Mobile could have a new iPhone version to sell in the holiday season.

Previously Piper Jaffray analyst Chris Larsen predicted that Apple iPhone 5 will be available in the U.S. with Sprint as well as T-Mobile. Reports say that if the proposed AT&T-T-Mobile merger takes place, the iPhone 5 launch could be delayed. But since AT&T already has the iPhone 4 selling well on its network, the iPhone 5 is expected to enter their network as well.

Germany's Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile, has reportedly started taking pre-orders for the next generation iPhone.

Apple has been reported to be testing out the iPhone on T-Mobile’s network with prototype devices, and T-Mobile indicated it was hosting more than a million unlocked iPhone devices on its network in June as Apple started selling unlocked versions of the iPhone.

Earlier this year, AT&T and Verizon linked with Apple for the best-selling iPhone 4. Both carriers are eager to get their hands on the next generation iPhone.

Meanwhile, Sprint is getting ready to sell the iPhone 5 with an unlimited data plan and hopes to capture consumer attention as it remains the last major U.S. carrier to offer one. Sprint has “confirmed” that it would be selling the iPhone 5. Sprint also recently raised its smartphone termination fee to $350, a move which some have taken as another indication that it soon will begin selling the iPhone 5.

However, the carrier has quietly announced that it will phase out its Sprint Premier program, where customers used to upgrade their phones as often as once a year. Also Sprint has altered its return window policy from 30 days to 14 days. And current Gold Premier customers have until the end of 2012 to use their last annual upgrade.

Melinda Parks, marketing director for Sprint, said: “In order to continue offering customers one of the best values of affordable unlimited data plans in the industry today, cutting-edge devices at great prices and our ongoing investment in providing great customer service, we had to make the difficult decision that it's necessary to bring the Sprint Premier Program to a close at this time.”