AT&T to New York: You Can’t Handle the iPhone!
Image Source: SunSentinel.com
Gizmodo has a post up today about an investigation being done by The Consumerist into reports that AT&T will not allow people with New York zip codes to purchase an iPhone. After finding that AT&T ‘s online site did appear to deny purchase to New York (and some surrounding area) zip codes, here ‘s the dialog between The Consumerist ‘s reporter and an AT&T CS rep:
Daphne: Welcome to AT&T online Sales support. How may I assist you with placing your order today?
Laura: Hi, I was looking at the iPhone 3Gs and the system tells me that I cannot order one in my ZIP code. My zip code is 11231. (Brooklyn, NY) Is this true? Are iPhones no longer available in New York City?
Daphne: I am happy to be helping you today . Yes, this is correct the phone is not offered to you because New York is not ready for the iPhone.
Daphne: You don’t have enough towers to handle the phone.
Laura: Thank you for your help. So the phone is not available to people anywhere in the city?
Daphne: Yes this is correct Laura.
Consumerist is awaiting clarification from AT&T Media Relations. In the meantime, chalk up another big PR fail for AT&T at the very least.
Source: Consumerist via Gizmodo
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So, is this wonderful strategy a response to all those pokes directed at AT&T.. that you can't get a reliable connection on an iPhone in New York? Hopefully there's more to this; otherwise – worst PR move since – their last PR move.
Oh, supposedly it's due to fraudulent purchases in NYC.. http://www.gearlog.com/2009/12/att_nixes_online_i…
Which actually seems worst; implying a NYC full of fraudulent iPhone buyers and an apparent failure of AT&T to solve the problem without nixing sales to the city.
I think we can safely chalk this one up as another large PR fail for AT&T.
I think AT&T got the message. As of one minute ago, I was able to bring up all models of the iPhone on the AT&T Wireless website using my Upper West Side zip code.
LOL – not surprising