As one of the editors sitting around the Macworld offices waiting for others to arrive with iPhones, I decided to hit that reload key in my browser until Apple’s online store came back up. Right at 6 p.m. Pacific time, I was able to connect and make my way (slowly, ever so slowly) to the iPhone order page. There I found two things.
1. Online orders are subject to the same two-per-customer restrictions as the brick-and-mortar stores.
2. Unlike the real stores, Apple is estimating 2-4 weeks for shipping out online iPhone orders.
Wow, 2-4 weeks! Guess those wanting an iPhone now better plan on a store visit after all.
Without a decent high speed network, the iPhone will just be a glorified iPod. Apple will sell content (that is where the money is in this for them) and you'll carry a Verizon smartphone for e-mail and internet and something really novel- making actual phone calls. With the AT&T network, it is just another toy with promise. People are going to complain they bought a $500. iPod and then the next generation will use the EDGE Network or become available through other carriers- then the iPhone sales will really meet the hype. Until then, the smart money waits it out. Tick, tick, tick......
Have the iPhone in hand. Its beautiful and works as described. No problem with being a early adopter as long as you have the "experience" and the rewards that come with it. Now, if you don't want it now, you can always imagine how nice it would be like to have one and actually use it. The alternative would be to use a "smartphone" and go on with one's dreary and dull life.
I must agree with Jack. Two friends and I just had dinner together here in Birmingham, AL. I have a Treo 650 with Verizon. The second friend had a Razor (I believe) with Verizon, and the third friend had a new iPhone. While both of us Verizon users had signal and could place calls from inside the restaurant, my friend's iPhone had no signal. And frankly, my Treo is not the best on signal strength, so I was quite surprised and disappointed. Imagine how my friend with the iPhone felt. Sorry, Apple, but you (and AT&T) have failed to deliver quality here in Birmingham. After all, it's a PHONE FIRST.
My iPhone works great in Denver. Excellent signal as expected on my home and work wireless... Very acceptable signal on the EDGE, better than I receive on several of the free wi-fi spots. :-) Its the best handheld ever!
Bought the iphone Saturday at 1:00 and At&t has still not ported it yet. In fact they are closed on Sundays, CLOSED!
The phone is great. AT&T? Apple, what were you thinking?
AT&T is the worst in service and signal.
Have no credit card to buy iPhone offline or online. A few days ago I bought iPhone online without credit card through the services of Happy Buyer. I paid Happybuyer with cash. That went well. Anyone out there with the same experience?? Website is http://happybuyer.org