Next-gen device to start at 16GB capacities, carried by Sprint

Oct 3, 2011 13:51 GMT  ·  By

A listing captured in Radio Shack’s inventory system serves to indicate that U.S. wireless operator Sprint is finally getting Apple as a client this year, and not in any negligible way either. Apparently they’ve secured a contract to carry the much hyped iPhone 5.

Obtained by 9to5mac from a source they call ‘new’ (as in not with a proven track record), the image displayed left could well be doctored.

However, Sprint (also referred to as the Now Network), has provided several clues this year that would seem to indicate plans to carry Apple’s iPhone.

The operator is known to have increased its Early Termination Fee, as well as its upgrade fees. Finally, technicians have been spotted installing Sprint cellular repeaters in Apple Stores.

With this new tidbit on the table, one can’t help but regard it as good old-fashioned visual evidence that the iPhone 5 will be sold to US residents through more than just two operators (as is the case with the iPhone 4).

Radio Shack is a franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States that sells a lot of mobile devices.

Their listing of a ‘16GB Sprint Apple iPhone 5’ should indicate that Cupertino is not increasing the storage capacity for its entry-level iPhone 5, but it doesn’t mean that a 64GB version will not be available.

In fact, if Vodafone Germany is to be believed, even the rumored iPhone 4S will pack that much NAND Flash inside.

The photo also shows iPhone 5 devices set to run on Verizon's and AT&T's airwaves with 32GB capacities.

9to5 doesn’t seem too doubtful about the picture they’ve just received, something I thought was perhaps worth pointing out.

Now, which of you here does business with Sprint, or would like to do so if the iPhone 5 was carried by them? Sound off in the comments.