AT&T and Apple : FAIL

June 15th, 2010 in Active Discussions

Millions across the country are unable to pre-order the iPhone 4G - apparently (once again) AT&T doesn't have it's act together. FAIL

If there’s been one SIGNIFICANT strategic blunder that Apple has made since the launch of the iPod and the incredible (some would say historic) resurgence of their company – it is to have associated themselves with AT&T. For those of us who have been online to get the first iPhone, and the second, and third – and been through all of the incredibly headaches of failed activations, endless lines and horrid customer service from AT&T (to be fair the people on the phone you get when calling customer service at AT&T are actually great – I’m referring to the service at the stores) – I can’t believe that with the iPhone 4, Apple and AT&T have still not been able to get their act together. It’s an embarrassment – and mostly to Apple.

It’s safe to say that no one expects much from AT&T. I never have. But I am a huge backer of Apple. However, by associating themselves with a subpar company, their value – and record of near perfection – has been tarnished – badly. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Steve Jobs has lost many nights of sleep due to his decision to go with AT&T and sign that exclusivity agreement.

And don’t even get me started on the phone service – basically the running jokes these days (and for awhile now) is that the iPhone is the best phone in the world – that can’t actually make any phone calls. I drop 2 out of 3 calls on average. And it’s taken every bit of self control not to throw the phone against a wall/car/you name it – on a number of occasions.

In the end – I’m not debating whether or not to get the iPhone 4 at all. I debated setting my alarm last night for 1 a.m. to get online and order one. I guess part of me is growing up (or becoming fed up with the hype) and I decided not to. I decided I could wait a few extra days/weeks to get the phone if that’s what would result in putting the order in the next morning.

My friend Charles – was not so lucky – here’s an e-mail he sent me this morning (btw – Charles is in his 40s and far too cool to be what one would describe as an Apple Fanboy (ergo I was shocked to see the note from him below) :

“I told myself that while I was going to get an iPhone 4 at some point to not be a rabid little xxxx about it, no waiting in lines etc. So then when I happened across the very beginning of the online ordering last night at 1 a.m., I thought it was just fate and I would go that route–of course Apple and AT&T screwed that whole process up, it was just like trying to call a radio station to win a contest back in the day–you keep dialing and getting a busy signal. I spent 2 bloody hours trying to navigate the ever-shifting windows of death, came so close multiple times, like to the very last screen where you place it “in your cart” and getting Oops! error messages. Each time I promised myself I wasn’t going to try again and then I did. I feel like the biggest shmuck on wheels ever. So, up until 3 a.m., no iPhone4.”

Sure, the AT&T servers are overwhelmed. Why wouldn’t they be? Their cell service is overwhelmed also. Consistency is the key to success, even if it results in being consistently mediocre to hapless – they’ve proven to be rockstars are redefining the term mediocrity. We all should have known better.

I think that AT&Ts new contracts are abhorrent and abusive – I’d pay extra and perhaps even lose my unlimited web service – if their service actually worked decently in the first place. But they don’t. So for them to try to charge more and provide less is nothing less than laughable. And increasing the early termination fees – could they sound ANY MORE AFRAID or WEAK by doing that!?!?!?

They’ve given me the following idea: I’m probably going to wait for 3-6 months with my iPhone 3Gs for another carrier to be announced. And merrily cancel my AT&T contract then w/o penalty. Unfortunately I don’t think the next provider will be Verizon… I pray that it would because I love Verizon – but my best guess is something more along the lines of T-Mobile…. or some provider on the same network type as AT&T.

We’ll see. For now – I’m not sure I want an iPhone 4G if it comes with AT&T’s strings attached.

Bad move AT&T to not have your act together fort he launch today (for the third time in a row!) – even worse of a move to have announced all of these contractual changes in the past weeks. You killed yourself. I can’t wait to say goodbye together.

Oh and by the way – my AT&T DSL modem isn’t working at my office either today… only wish they had Verizon FIOS in this area… but alas not.