Apple's Free iPhone 4 Case Program to End September 30th
Apple today announced on its iPhone 4 Case Program page (via The Loop) that it will be discontinuing the program as of the previously-stated September 30th end date. The company is also ending its no-restocking-fee, 30-day return policy for the iPhone 4, returning to its standard return policy that requires a 10% restocking fee on opened merchandise and returns within 14 days of purchase.
Apple is, however, leaving open the possibility of providing cases to customers who demonstrate a distinct problem with antenna issues on their devices. At the company's July press conference to address the issue, Steve Jobs had stated that Apple would re-evaluate the program as the September 30th deadline approached.
We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper case.
An executive with Mexican iPhone carrier Telcel late last month claimed that Apple would be introducing revised iPhone 4 hardware by the end of September to address the antenna issue, but Apple has made no announcements regarding changes to its hardware or manufacturing process.Top Rated Comments
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"We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought."
Yeah, right! You kept denying that there was any problem then you tried to underplay it. Whatever you say about the antenna, Mr. Jobs does not matter anymore.
So much for a new iPhone 4 revision... lol!
If they did secretly update the hardware after september 30th, they are effectively screwing their customers who were willing to upgrade as soon as it came out. Completely wrong. If it was a hardware defect - they should replace ALL iPhone 4's for free. Not just give out some plastic case.
Hi,
Is your iPhone 4 faulty?
s.
If they did secretly update the hardware after september 30th, they are effectively screwing their customers who were willing to upgrade as soon as it came out. Completely wrong. If it was a hardware defect - they should replace ALL iPhone 4's for free. Not just give out some plastic case.
Seconded. If there's a change to the hardware, they are acknowledging there's a problem, and this announcement is the third time they've said there is no real issue with it.
Phone signal varies by area, it also depends on the infrastructure as well as the phone itself, maybe it was blown out of proportion as all the people I know who have iP4s have no issues. But of cause others might have the opposite experience.
Ordered my iPhone 4 this morning, Im confident there won't be a hardware change - and to be fair I'd have got a case for it even if there were no signal issues just to protect it!
An executive with Mexican iPhone carrier Telcel late last month claimed that Apple would be introducing revised iPhone 4 hardware by the end of September to address the antenna issue, but Apple has made no announcements regarding changes to its hardware or manufacturing process.
Apple will NEVER admit to a mid-refresh hardware revision, even though they do it in their computers all of the time. This is not to say I think one is coming, just that if they do, it will be kept under wraps. That is, until iFixit gets ahold of one.
FWIW, everyone I know in Denver/Boulder area that has iPhone 4 experiences antenna issues. Can't speak for elsewhere. Then again, the max upload speed on my iPhone 3G is 65 kbps standing 20 ft from a tower. Maybe AT&T does bear some blame.
/sarcasm
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