Apple iPhone 3G Bummer

Would be nice if O2 (UK) let existing customers with contracts switch over to the iPhone 3G. This was the case with the launch of the first iPhone. So I was under the impression by staff that this would be the case this time. I even swapped from Orange to O2 to facilitate this move.

The other nice experience was that O2 took £10 from me as a deposit for an iPhone 3G but when I went in to collect it - they say "we have loads upstairs, the system is down so we can't sell them, we'll give you a call when everything is back to normal". It is now Saturday and the system is still down. Sounds more like bollocks to me!

Here's a good experience - MobileMe, is it launched? Are people using it? I know I'm not, I can't get it. So much for the Apple slogan "it just works". The launch of iPhone 3G and MobileMe is clearly a massive balls-up. Apple have powerful servers, massively skilled engineers and obviously an over zealous marketing team that is short on deliverables. It's a joke to see the advertising "the phone you've been waiting for" and the t-shirts and balloons. In the O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores it looks like a party were the host didn't turn up. Not good for new blood O2 or Apple customers.

In the wake of this debacle the Carphone Warehouse has a little flyer on the iPhone 3G display units (devoid of handsets) comparing the iPhone 3G with other phones on the market with the bias to the other phones. Message to Apple - don't come up with the goods, your outlet partners will stab you in the back.

As for the attitude of some people who seem to roll over and accept the apparent sub-standard yellow tinted screens as preferred I find amazing. Apple users should be scathing if things are not right - not accepting. Apple users have been used to brilliant products that work straight out of the box. So much so we have a smug look on our faces when talking about our kit. Apple as a company picked up on this an incorporated the smug attitude into it's advertising. But the smug look doesn't last too long when Apple fails. And it's failed big time this time around.

posted by powderdust @ 12:26:00