iPhone Training Dates and Apple Store Preparations

[MacRumors]

As we approach June, we'll be seeing more and more tidbits about Apple and Cingular/AT&T's preparations to launch the iPhone. All evidence reinforces the expectation that Apple will be launching the iPhone in "late June" as expected.

As previously reported, iPhone support individuals are being hired. Training will reportedly begin on May 30th and will continue through June 20th. The actual launch should presumably be expected after the June 20th date.

Meanwhile, Apple Stores have begun seeing Cingular technicians visiting the store to test network (mobile) connectivity throughout the store. This move, of course, makes sense in that customers will expect good Cingular reception at the stores in which they will be buying the iPhone.

Finally, Apple appears to still be building up their core iPhone team and has advertised for an open house at their Elk Grove campus in California on May 16th. The newspaper ad reads:

We are hiring qualified people to join the iPhone team in Elk Grove. If you’re looking to inspire customers with technology that empowers their lives and get your foot in the door at Apple, this is one opportunity you don’t want to miss.

[siurpeeman]

so cingular employees come in and test the reception, but what do they do if it's bad? can they set up new cell towers?

[ITR 81]

Maybe they install some kinda of reception booster??

Our store has full bars so it's no worries here.

[Cindynjgirl79]

my friend works at the Cingular stone in town and he's getting training just to use the iphone. i really think apple people could should costmers how to use the phone but the Cingular people. i don't have that much faith in.

[bigandtasty]

fully agree. iPhone will be announced June 11th along with a ship date. Take the iTv, when announced it, along with it a ship date. If the iPhone is coming out "Late June", you should bank on having your CC ready to order on June 11th as they will start taking orders at that time and start to ship within a week after WWDC (fingers crossed)

This my friends..... IS BigAndTasty!

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by theappleblog

(It’s probably safe to assume [the ad] appeared in other papers near Elk Grove.)

Yup, there was a copy in the Sac Bee as well. The link leads to: http://www.apple.com/jobs/us/sac

Your future is calling. Join the Apple team.

Apple in Elk Grove is hiring. Join the team and serve as a customer's first point of contact at a company that wins top honors for its customer service and support—and have a chance to work with some of the coolest technology on the planet.

Available job openings are:

• Telesales Representative
• Telesales Team Manager
• iPhone Personal Trainer
• iPhone Personal Trainer Team Manager

[tjcampbell]

For a thing that's supposed to be so easy to use they are sure doing a lot of training...

[Lumi]

Originally Posted by tjcampbell

For a thing that's supposed to be so easy to use they are sure doing a lot of training...

It'll be sales training, it wont be training on how to use the device as such, but ensuring that the sales people know how to demo all the features. This is not uncommon, large companies do this when they know the sales people also sell other competeing products, educate the salesperson in every feature, make them like the product and the sales person will point a customer at that product before they point at anything else, a) because the salesperson really likes it, b) because the salesperson knows the product well and would rather demo a product he/she knows well than a product they haven't used before, i.e. salespeople want to look like they know what they are talking about.

[craigsharp@spym]

I have a friend who just got hired onto apple as an iPhone Support Member. He's moving to Austin TX on the 19th and Starts on the 29th. I'm sure there'll be a day of meet and greet, then start training the following day as reported.
Hes so freakin lucky, They pay fairly decent too. mid 30's for single guy aint bad.

[paulyras]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Meanwhile, Apple Stores have begun seeing Cingular technicians visiting the store to test network (mobile) connectivity throughout the store. This move, of course, makes sense in that customers will expect good Cingular reception at the stores in which they will be buying the iPhone.

If I were Apple, I would definitely be demoing the phone using it's wifi capabilities (which no apple store would be without currently), rather than worrying about EDGE connectivity. My current phone is a pearl (again, EDGE), and I must say, blazing data speeds is not one feature I would list for it. My understanding is that the issue is more the network, rather than the phone, though I'm willing to concede that I can't say for sure.

[jimN]

How on earth can people vote this negative? Honestly, it's as though some people see that it says no negative votes and decide it would be nice to see their vote count. Either that or Gates and Bulmer were here!

[Abstract]

Originally Posted by Cindynjgirl79

my friend works at the Cingular stone in town and he's getting training just to use the iphone. i really think apple people could should costmers how to use the phone but the Cingular people. i don't have that much faith in.

Um.......what?

Originally Posted by Lumi

It'll be sales training, it wont be training on how to use the device as such, but ensuring that the sales people know how to demo all the features.

Well, it'll essentially be both. They want the sales staff to know how to use every feature. The experience of using this phone for the first time will probably be somewhat different than with other phones, so they want new customers who walk in to know they're being led by a salesperson who really knows this cool little phone inside and out.

[NewMacGirl]

Even the most simple product needs great support and I'm glad apple is building these teams.

It's my biggest bug bear with even the best companies (apple included) the customer service and support often let down brilliant products.

I had a miserable experience ordering an ipod for my sister. The first one got lost, then the second one was lost by the courier company (yes apparently it happens al the time...) Well ringing up apple was very unsatisfactory, there are so many layers and tying to get through to the right person was a nightmare. It amost turned me aginst apple, really.

So apple has to get the customer support spot on as they will win or loose by it, for me apple are on probation and I need convincng they can do this properly. I have no doubt they can design awesome products though.

[jimN]

Originally Posted by NewMacGirl

Well ringing up apple was very unsatisfactory, there are so many layers and tying to get through to the right person was a nightmare. It amost turned me aginst apple, really.

I've had quite the opposite experience of Apple with regards to a 1st generation iPod shuffle. It started playing back only through one headphone and it was still inside its warranty period. I completed the online form and with 48 hours I had a replacement and a paid returns envelope. Excellent performance.

Obviously you can't judge a company on one case alone, but for me it's 100% of my exposure and they were faultless.

[glennyboiwpg]

June 11th.... is that the day that they are doing the keynote for WWDC? I really hope they don't release the iphone on that day. I REALLY REALLY HOPE not. And you know why. IF THAT is the day they are releasing the iphone, then you can kiss any leopard news at the keynote goodbye.

The iphone probably deserves its own keynote... but please... not at the expense of leopard.

And for the record... i'm not anti-iphone, i'm just waiting (ever so impaciently) for leopard,iLife,iwork.

I actually can't wait for the iphone released... it WILL BE GREAT... because then apple can start getting it's other projects out the door.

</rant>

[Arcady]

Cingular needs to come to where I work and test the signal strength. I swear, there's a dead zone here. T-Mobile phones work just fine, but my Cingular phone just dies anywhere within 15 feet of my desk.

[zelman]

Originally Posted by Arcady

Cingular needs to come to where I work and test the signal strength. I swear, there's a dead zone here. T-Mobile phones work just fine, but my Cingular phone just dies anywhere within 15 feet of my desk.

That's what bluetooth is for. Keep your phone 16 feet away, and still answer calls.

[Maestro64]

Originally Posted by siurpeeman

so cingular employees come in and test the reception, but what do they do if it's bad? can they set up new cell towers?

The can put in signal amplifier in the building, GSM allow for this, I have a T-mobile signal amplifier right next to my desk, without it I would have not reception in my building.

Some building depending on how they were built are very good at shielding cellphone signals.

Hell my parents house does a beautiful job of that, inside thier house you get zero bars, just walk outside and you get 5 bars. Their house is perfect for those who worry about radio waves getting in their heads.

[elppa]

Originally Posted by Lumi

i.e. salespeople want to look like they know what they are talking about.

I think you'll find this trait is not exclusively found in sales assistants.

[twoodcc]

well i guess this is good news. this iPhone gets more and more hype everyday

[mi5moav]

I can pretty much guarantee Apple employees will be trained we'll before Cingular employees on the iphone. Heck they are just getting training on some devices now that have been out for over 6 MONTHS!!! So, hopefully by Christmas time they will get some training. Of course it might also just be some online computer based training that 90% of Cingy employees will just zip through.

[harodude]

My oh my!

I wish that I knew what the age requirement and the required traits are to work for Apple. I live in Elk Grove, just a few minutes away from the Laguna pad, and would really like to try to get a job with Apple. Either from that larger building, or the local Apple Store.

Anyone be able to fill me in where to get Job requirements?


haro

[SiliconAddict]

Originally Posted by siurpeeman

so cingular employees come in and test the reception, but what do they do if it's bad? can they set up new cell towers?

Hehehe. That's a good one. Do you have any idea how much a PITA it is for carriers to get approval to build a tower? So the answer would be nope.

Originally Posted by zelman

That's what bluetooth is for. Keep your phone 16 feet away, and still answer calls.

Yep. Put your phone on someone else's desk or a table out in the hall and answer it at your station. Does anyone ever read their posts before they submit them?

Originally Posted by tjcampbell

For a thing that's supposed to be so easy to use they are sure doing a lot of training...

*sighs and rubs his temples* I see that Steve's RDF has really saturated some people.

[je_wallace]

I imagine others have already envisioned this, but I just realized this. Apple is selling the iPhone at their stores, so Apple must also be selling new phone service contracts. Thus, Apple must be getting a percentage of that "new" or "renewed" service contract revenue.

Given that much has been made about Radio Shack lack-luster earnings since it shifted it's cell phone partnership from Cingular to Verizon, and that there are so many "mom & pop" (and significantly larger) independent cell phone stores, I assume the revenues from selling new or renewed service contacts are substantial.

How much can Apple expect to earn per cell phone customer in addition to the phone sale, when the sale is made from an Apple, Inc. Store?

[xparaparafreakx]

The ad did show up on our school newspaper, UC Davis. They are also going to do interviews on campus.