Sprint (S) pushes into smartphone business

Some wonder whether Sprint (NYSE: S) can do anything to turn around its fortunes. It almost always ranks last in customer service among cellular carriers. It is still losing subscribers and its stock is down to $8.22. A year ago, it traded at almost $23.

Sprint continues to lose money. The firm has decided to get more deeply into the smartphone business with a product that it hopes can challenge the Apple (NADSAQ: AAPL) iPhone, which is marketed by AT&T (NYSE: T). Fat chance.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the No.3 cellular service provider "will be taking on the iPhone with a lower price for its own touch-screen smart phone, the Samsung Instinct."

While the new handset may be a good one, it is hard to find a product that sells itself more than the iPhone. The Apple phone is part of a cult of buyers who love products from Jobs & Co.

And even if the Samsung phone was better than the Apple product, Sprint's customer service may well undermine its sales. A hot product only does well for a short time if the company that markets it has an awful reputation for taking care of its subscribers.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.