iPhone 4S. Sprint

Sprint sweetens the deal for iPhone 4S

Sprint is upping the ante to move the iPhone 4S to customers as many expect Apple to unveil the next generation of the popular smartphone next month.

After a price drop last week, the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier is now packaging a $100 gift card with the purchase of any smartphone by new customers over the Internet. Apple plans to match the deal by offering Apple Store credit for the same amount, Business Insider confirmed.

The new promotion, which is good until August 26, comes less than a month before the expected launch of the new iPhone on Sept. … Read more

Five years of the iPhone

Five years ago today, at exactly 6 p.m. in each time zone, the original Apple iPhone went on sale in the United States. At the time I was outside the Apple store in downtown San Francisco witnessing tech history being made. And even though I've been to scores of other product launches since June 29, 2007, I can still recall the day vividly.

Editors' note: This story was originally published on June 29, 2011, but has been updated with the iPhone 4S.

The sidewalk in front of the Stockton Street store that evening was absolutely mobbed and a line of eager buyers stretched around the corner and out of sight. Indeed, as I was waiting to pick up our review model, I was nearly flattened against the store's glass wall when the enormous crowd began to surge toward the entrance.

Finally, as the magic hour struck and the doors opened, a line of applauding employees welcomed the first buyers. The line began to cheer "iPhone!, iPhone!" and a few minutes the first guy exited with his handset held high. I quickly sneaked inside to pick mine up and then hurried back to CNET's office with Donald Bell for a long night of writing the review (relive our review in real time!). Yet, that was after Brian Cooley got to take it out of the box on video. … Read more

Sprint aggressively promotes iPhone 4S unlimited plan

Sprint today is shouting its unlimited iPhone 4S data plan from the rooftops, hoping to attract Verizon customers who are hopping mad at losing their unlimited data.

Starting today, you can trade in your current non-Sprint iPhone for the carrier's own model, and get at least $100 off when you sign a new two-year contract.

Of course, the limited-time offer also gets you Sprint's promise of capless data access for the device, and that's what Sprint hopes will be the real draw for fed-up Verizon subscribers.

CNET has contacted Verizon for a comment.

Plan rates and conditions … Read more