C Spire Wireless, the regional wireless carrier formerly known as Cellular South, will launch Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 4S, becoming the fourth U.S. carrier to do so.
C Spire did not provide details on when it will launch the device, what price points it will offer and what plans will be coupled with the device. However, the launch represents a coup for the CDMA carrier, which operates primarily in the South. C Spire will be getting the iPhone 4S before Tier 1 carrier T-Mobile USA and before flat-rate players like Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP) and MetroPCS (NYSE:PCS).
AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T), Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) currently offer the iPhone 4S, which went on sale Oct. 14. In the U.S., the iPhone 4S retails for $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model and $399.99 for the 64GB model, with a two-year contract.
C Spire spokesman Dave Miller told FierceWireless that the carrier will provide more details in the coming weeks. He said it's likely that that the carrier will offer the version that Verizon and Sprint offer, which provides CDMA service and global GSM roaming. He declined to comment on C Spire's relationship or negotiations with Apple.
Privately held C Spire Wireless counts roughly 875,000 wireless subscribers and operates a network across Mississippi and parts of Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The carrier offers nationwide service through roaming, but doesn't disclose its roaming partners.
For more:
- see this release
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