Apple/AT&T iPhone 3G launch deemed a disaster

The only negative for this product is tight a contract for 2 years with AT&T. If the Iphone 3g is selling 399 for 8 gb and 499 for 16 gb with no commitment (non contract) with any telecom service, which i believe the Iphone 3G will be a globalize welcoming product. Becz of this limitation (the prices and contract bias), it may cause apple lost a lot of potential customer.

FUBAR is right. I waited 3.5 hours this morning to get my iphone at the Annapolis Apple Store. At first I was just happy they had it in stock. Then the nightmare began. Something happened in the activation process that prevented Apple from being able to process the transaction. But AT&T says the iphone was activated. Long and short of it -- 8 hours after my day began I do not have my iphone, but because of AT&T's records of its activation I also don't even have access to my cell phone. It's a complete disaster. I wasted a day of my life. I can't use my old cell phone. I can't get my new iphone. And no one can give me answers as to when and how this can be fixed.

If disaster means all devices sold out in about 30 minutes at every retail store in my city, and yet lines of people continued to pour in to each outlet to order more for future delivery... hmm. I wish I was selling a product that was so unpopular. If you want to knock AT&T be my guest but Steve Jobs is probably doing the chicken dance right now after looking at the device sales in the US alone. Brian, stick to being retarded it works best for you.

It appears that all the IPhones in the DC area are sold out until the stores receive a shipment next Monday or Tuesday. The people I spoke to at the stores were happy with the phones and all had been activated to their satisfaction. The activation problem seems to have occurred only in the US and has to do with the servers and not with AT & T's network. Just too many damn phones sold. Also an individual told me if you switch off the 3G then the talk time dramatically increases.

Beltway Greg

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The first two posts in response to this article are absolutely correct! Americans are idiots relative to others when it comes to the "next big revolutionary thing"! Remember the XBOX 360 fiasco? Besides, what do the firsty buyers have to show for their dim-witted efforts? A plaque? Or trophy? Or certificate? Puh-leeze, give me a break.

--> Also, the first line of products cost more than ever, and contain numerous glitches. Learn your lessons, you morons!

You're making a mountain out of a molehill. It was a bad hiccup, indeed, but calling it a disaster is straight out hyperbole. Everything is working great now and those with a 3G phone are a happy lot.

ONE MILLION SOLD in one weekend.

Yes, take my hand, I'll help you find your seat. AKA: All of you who think this kind of outragous success is a "disaster" have a seat pre-assigned on the short bus.

The only disaster I see at the moment is this biased article. No other company in the world has ever pulled of such a global launch of this magnitude. The fact that the servers crashed is enough to tell anyone that the launch was huge and a great success.

I bought an iphone on opening day. I blogged about the experience while I was at the store on savvywallet.com. There were some technical difficulties. The line was moving quick, then it stopped. I arrived around 815am, and didn't leave til after 1. It was quite a ordeal. It wasn't Apple fault, it was more on AT&T. Apple did all they could to expedite the flow, but there was only so much they could have fun. In the end. It is totally worth it.

I bought an iphone on opening day. I blogged about the experience while I was at the store on savvywallet.com. There were some technical difficulties. The line was moving quick, then it stopped. I arrived around 815am, and didn't leave til after 1. It was quite a ordeal. It wasn't Apple fault, it was more on AT&T. Apple did all
they could to expedite the flow, but there was only so much they could have fun. In the end. It is totally worth it.

How can the most successful Worldwide (25 country) Consumer Electronics launch be deemed a disaster?

Apple sold 1M Units in the opening weekend, raking in somewhere close $0.5Bn in Sales Revenues?

This launch dwarfs, iPhone v1, XBox 360, Windows 95 and Betamax launch?

I have been trying to purchase a new iphone for the last several days. Every time I go into the store, they are sold out, "check back tomorrow" is the reply. I was there at 9 am today and they were out. Why can't they seem to get this product?

I am so pissed. I am a business owner and have been waiting to upgrade my Version/Treo to Apple/ATnT, but about now I am ready to go to Blackberry/Sprint!

I told the customer service people at ATnT that I needed a phone come the end of the week so that I could travel for business and asked for a solution that they could offer. Catch this...
"Go to Walmart and buy a go phone, then check back with us when you get back in town." I am sure that the folks at Walmart appreciate that!

Doesn't ATnT have a loner program? Shouldn't their concern be customer service? Doesn't Apple want to sell these things? If I were a manager there, I would be on the phone to Apple every 10 minutes saying "where the heck are my phones!!"

They are loosing business, and not just mine. I was not the only disgrunteled person in there for the umteenth time, there were at least three others there with me asking the same question, "when will they be in stock?" Screw supply and demand... that only helps the ebay crowd. Apple isn't going to raise the price of the phone because of a limited supply, and this isn't helping the stock price.

I wanted to purchase two phones, a laptop connect card and an unlimited plan, now, if this is any indication of how Apple and ATnT value a new client and will service my future needs, I am not so sure I want to enter into a long term relationship with either of them. With the economy in straights I want to spend my dollars with the one who will go the distance and be a help not a hindrance.

stood in line....got one of the first ones.....no problems at all :)

How can 1 million copies sold in 72 hours worldwide be a disaster? I guess that is why AT&T has so many exclusive rights to handsets because they are antiquated and piecemeal. AT&T is the best; it will be the LONE true American telecom company left.

I agree with everyone else that says this phone was a bad move for Apple. Well no it was actually a bad move on the consumers part. They boasted about this phone being on the 3G network!, big deal..AT&T's whole network now is running 3G(except older phones) wouldn't you expect a phone they sell to be on it!! People get a clue they gave you an applications launcher and a newer version of Itunes and and charged you $199 or $299. Plus what network doesn't test their product to it's full extent that it crashes and they loose service for 6 hours!! I hope you guys were compensated for that and not to mention that no one but Best Buy offers actual insurance for this phone and the only thing Apple Support will cover is manufacturer defects.