Sprint Execs have learned to love the Instinct handset. In fact, the only time you see them without one in their hands, is when someone nearby has an iPhone they’re playing with.
In Sprint’s second-quarter performance discussions with Wall Street analysts this morning, the company’s execs made it abundantly clear that they are not threatened by the iPhone. And that the Instinct is all they need.
Although Sprint lost nearly 901,000 subscribers during the third quarter, CEO Dan Hesse is putting heavy focus on essential, core goals… like keeping existing subscribers. Good luck trying to squeeze innovation into rate plans and contracts. The Samsung Instinct, and Sprint’s new Simply Everything calling plans, are making a big difference, Hesse said.
Additionally, Hesse said, “Our Instinct drew rave reviews and broke sales records at Sprint retail stores and at Best Buy.” Sounds like typical CEO jargon, where their product is the best one in the marketplace. But, I’m pretty sure Apple, Steve Jobs, the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G had a lot to do with Sprint’s fail rate.
“Sprint is faring much better this year than it did during the debut of the original iPhone at slowing the exodus of its subscribers lured away by the sleek and shiny device.” John Garcia, a senior Sprint executive, said in attempt to dismiss those concerns.
The impact of the iPhone has been muted, he said. “Last year we didn’t have the Instinct,” Garcia said. “This year we do. We are very proud of the phone.”
Sprint also seems to be very happy with its cellular network. So much so, that they seemed to go a little too far when dismissing AT&T’s 3G network that the new iPhone runs on. “The iPhone certainly is a nice product,” Garcia said. “It’s on a brand new 3G network a fifth the size of ours.”
Hey Sprint, wake us up when you have anything worth looking at, ok?
