Sprint Debunks iPhone Losses, LTE Move To Open Network Plan (S, AAPL, QCOM, CLWR, T, VZ)

Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) had been taking heat this week for what many have called an overpaying or losing money to carry the new iPhone from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).  The tab was being put at spending some $20 billion, just to lose money.  If you trust what CEO Dan Hesse has said at its investor conference this morning, the company really wants to debunk this myth.  Hesse said at the investor conference in an audiocast that Sprint’s iPhone customers will actually be among Sprint’s most profitable customers and that this will boost cash flow.

Steven L. Elfman, the head of network operations, is unveiling the new aggressive rollout of the LTE on the 1900 spectrum (CDMA) is the big gain.  As far as technology and equipment partners, Elfman noted Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) for CDMA and LTE with new products in mid-2012 and it is still there with Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ: CLWR) for WiMAX (just don’t expect that to help the huge stock drop for Clearwire at worse than -20% on last look as Sprint will have its own network now).  

The company is also going to host spectrum for other carriers and customers to go to an open network architecture.  It has its first spectrum hosting relationship with LightSquared, an open wireless broadband network provider.  Sprint is eliminating its iDEN network to reduce costs structure to reharvest its 800 spectrum.  The company effectively wants customers migrated by sometime in 2013.  As far as what it had previously offered as a 3 year to 5 year plan is actually now more like a 2 year to 3 year migration plan.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) had a huge jump with a multi-year exclusivity for the iPhone now and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) has been an iPhone carrier.  Sprint will mark the third carrier status in America for Apple.

Sprint shares are rallying on the investor presentation.  Shares are now up 7% at $3.22 and the 52-week range is $2.25 to $6.45.

Analysts still see losses ahead for Sprint.  If the company can deliver on its iPhone profits, maybe Sprint will become one of the great turnaround stories. 

JON C. OGG