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AT&T Halts Online iPhone Sales to New York City Market
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Hold on. ID theft is not nearly as commonplace as 1.2% in NYC and it wouldn't mean that half of them would get iPhones. Operations that large have IDs from all across the country, if not the world. It is rather strange that AT&T's timing is right during the holiday season when a huge amount of people would be purchasing an iPhone and it is not like these thieves would be waiting til the holidays to use this info. You would have to believe that AT&T is willing to lose all the online sales from the iPhone on Christmas to stop some thieves.
It doesn't matter if it's a BB or not. It could be any number of smartphones. Where are the instances of the Verizon doing this with the Droid? The Droid is selling well. If I was a thief, I would be ordering phones off of at least two carriers. It's not like these thieves are going to stop because they can't get the iPhone so it is really stopping nothing.
LOL, my conspiracy theory? I pointed you to a well-respected blog and a story that has been picked up by major tech sites. The funny thing is that you think that AT&T wouldn't do this. They have already said they have problems in NYC and that they are considering tiered data services amongst other "incentives".
Your post was not filled with facts. You're assuming how many possible people have had their IDs stolen while puchasing iPhones with no facts.
You say that thieves would go after the iPhone first. That may be true but it would make no sense to stop there and it would make more sense if AT&T issued a blanket policy for all smartphones considering they have more smartphones than any carrier.
Surely you must have proof of them using sensationalism (such as TechCrunch) rather than siding with the telcos who consistently lie and overcharge for services like SMS? As far as I know The Consumerist has been around for years blogging about consumers rights and unlike AT&T who Astroturfs against net neutrality.
You can't be serious. The Holiday season is when online fraud is at it's peak, especially in places like NYC.
Droid is not even close as a hot or marketable after market item as the iPhone is. And BB is currently outselling that iPhone but is one specific model outselling the iPhone.
Sorry, but they should have done more homework on this instead of just relying on one chat. Maybe they would have gotten a differ response if they did another online chat. The type of more reasonable response that I got.
Doesn't matter. That FACT is, it can be purchased in stores all over NYC. I personally don't think the restriction of iPhone sales online will make any differ with overall sales being that it's so easy to get to a AT&T store in NYC.
I bet more than 70% of NYC purchased an iPhone in person vs online anyway, which mutes any excuse of AT&T trying to free up data as it's excuse for this online restriction.
They wouldn't lose ALL online sales, just the ones from certain zip codes where it believes fraud is high.
The people who prefer iPhones to other devices would disagree with you.
Again, the Droid isn't selling nearly as much as the iPhone.
tech sites that are basically re-linking ONE source of information.
Not sell the iPhone online in certain zips codes you mean? no, I KNOW for a fact they're doing this. I simply disagree with you as to the reason.
If they were really concerned about network issues, the iPhone would be unavailable for sale in stores as well. But it still is available there, so that makes little sense to me that this is due to network issues.
New York has a lot of zip codes, and a lot of people moving in and out of various zip codes. Not to mention influxes of people who commute there from Connecticut, New Jersey and PA. So, doing this solely to manage a network constraint wouldn't be effective, nor would it make sense.
If the iPhone were mysteriously unavailable for sale throughout the entire tri-state region, then I might be inclined to believe this.
You are rejecting those facts because they don't fit with your conspiracy theory.
Again that may be true, but it would not offset the significant gains mAde through online sales.
Droid is not even close as a hot or marketable after market item as the iPhone is. And BB is currently outselling that iPhone but is one specific model outselling the iPhone.
That is not the point. They could hav easily purchased this as well as an iPhone. While the iPhone is a hotter product, they will go after whatever sells. The Droid is selling. It is not as if they will stopped because they're hopes were dashed in not getting an iPhone.
Again that may be true, but it would not offset the significant gains mAde through online sales.
You mean the chat you had after the story was broke for hours? Orafyer when they said they were trying to contact AT&T's Public Relations?
I don't know the percentages and neither do you. What I do know is that many businesses are struggling because of online purchases so it is an important factor.
There are more iPhones, Macs, etc. sold here than anywhere in the world. There is a reason why Apple has so many stores here. iPhones are more prevalent here than anywhere.
I don't care. I'm an iPhone owner. I don't have to prove affection for Apple products to anyone.
Again you are not getting it. Maybe you never been around thieves but they will after anything they can sell. It is not like if they can't get the iPhone they will pick up their ball and go home.
Yes they are linking to the same site. Have you got proof that The Consumerist is an unreliable website? They have a track record.
What in the hell does this have to do with zip codes. They are blocking NYC. Period. It's not incidental that they happen to live within the city. This tactic wouldn't be effective but remember this is a company whose tactics are screwed up to begin with. It is fully within the realm of possibility that they would do something this stupid because they would try to lessen the load of an already poor network in this area.
Now you're getting me pissed. Don't give me this conspiracy theory nonsense when AT&T has acted at their worst whenever possible and I've provided links from a respectable website. You have cited no facts and no links to back up your beliefs. Where you came up with 50,000 iPhone being stolen with IDs, I don't really know nor do I know where you came up with 1.2% of NYC ID thefts.
Let's stop for a moment and think about this without any knee jerk reaction against at&t.
The at&t network in New York City is not able to handle any additional network traffic. It makes sense due to the amount of users in such a small area.
What should at&t do?
I think it is reasonable to temporarily stop selling the iPhone considering the network in New York City. They can resume sales after the network has been upgraded to handle the additional traffic.
at&t has not sunk to a new low. They are finally taking responsibility for their network by not overloading it with any additional data heavy iPhone users.
Note: This post is based on speculation about speculation. Please take it how it was intended.
The at&t network in New York City is not able to handle any additional network traffic. It makes sense due to the amount of users in such a small area.
What should at&t do?
I think it is reasonable to temporarily stop selling the iPhone considering the network in New York City. They can resume sales after the network has been upgraded to handle the additional traffic.
at&t has not sunk to a new low. They are finally taking responsibility for their network by not overloading it with any additional data heavy iPhone users.
Note: This post is based on speculation about speculation. Please take it how it was intended.
If this was based on network traffic, They would stop sales in stores too. There are more than enough AT&T stores in NYC and other places like Bestbuy that New Yorkers can easily just walk or take a quick subway ride too. Stopping online sales will not deter any New Yorker from purchasing an iPhone.
Fraud seems like a reasonable explanation, anyone who believes otherwise is reaching for the stars.
Fraud seems like a reasonable explanation, anyone who believes otherwise is reaching for the stars.
Where are your figures to back this up?
I didn't ask you to prove your affection, nor do I care what your affections are. I'm pointing out that your argument has no validity, irrespective of where your "affections" may lie.
Of course not, but it deters thieves from using the online system for easy pickins to commit fraud. So it's not as easy to steal an iPhone online anymore, and other smartphones aren't hot sellers, so they'll go find some other scam that affects someone else.
The burden of proof lies with you, who is to trying to make a point with thin, if any, actual evidence. I'm not using nor relying on the Consumerist to make my point, so I don't have to prove its validity or lack thereof.
On the other hand, you are using ONLY the Consumerist (and a couple blogs that are blindly parroting the Consumerist without doing any research of their own), and just telling me I HAVE to beleive the consumerist because YOU say it's "well-respected." Well, *I* never really respected the Consumerist, because it has a history of blindly following sensationalist leads and has a marked anti-corporate leaning. I'm more inclined to respect sources that are objective and don't have a mission that blatantly compromises that objectivity. So sorry, you'll have to find additional evidence. And I'm not going to do your homework for you.
They are blocking sales online, by zip code. that makes it the cornerstone of this issue, and has everything to do with it.
Why, because you can't effectively prove your case because it relies on a single, un-corroborated source? Then you're taking this too personally. Why you have so much invested in convincing people that AT&T is blocking iPhone sales - and only online - for network resource control, is beyond me. Especially when such a tactic would have no effect on the problem this alleged conspiracy would supposedly solve. And the fact that you need to sell it so hard that it "pisses [you] off" that someone would challenge your thin and faulty argument kinda confirms you don't really have a leg to stand on.
oh my.. poor baby... such a hard life you lead... having to actually go do something yourself, next you will tell us how you have all of your mail hand delivered to you on a silver platter and your butler or maid reads it all to you.
Given how many members of MacRumors don't even have an Apple store in their city let alone state or country you come of as a whinger who needs sympathy when in reality you have nothing to complain about in the first place.
Maybe the truth is you are complaining about losing your easy way to get iPhones through fraudulant means and selling them for a profit? I mean, why else would you suggest that AT&T is lying about fraud as potential reason for blocking online purchases in your area?
Go take a walk, you can probably hit 5 AT&T resellers of some sort or Apple stores throwing a baseball from your front doorstep.
By the way, the iPhone Blog has something a bit more rational and realistic:
It would appear that a little independent research will show that getting an iPhone in NYC is still very possible.
And, the Consumerist has once again proven in a different story that panicky reporting can be bad.
It would appear that a little independent research will show that getting an iPhone in NYC is still very possible.
And, the Consumerist has once again proven in a different story that panicky reporting can be bad.
Think about it for a second: if this were really an effort to reduce network traffic, it would be a piss-poor way of going about it. For one thing, denying the iPhone to new customers would be far less dependable than throttling data speed. For another, they're closing down only one of many distribution channels, meaning that people in NYC will still be able to get all the iPhones they want. Finally, this would be a public admission that their network is insufficient...and more fodder for the Verizon commercials. You can't tell me that that's not first in every AT&T Wireless executive's mind right now.
I don't know what's going on -- everything is just speculation based on what some low-level AT&T employees (probably new ones who couldn't get out of the holiday shift) said. And I'm not going to jump to any conclusions. I'm just saying that the Consumerist's interpretation doesn't make much sense.
I don't know what's going on -- everything is just speculation based on what some low-level AT&T employees (probably new ones who couldn't get out of the holiday shift) said. And I'm not going to jump to any conclusions. I'm just saying that the Consumerist's interpretation doesn't make much sense.
the Consumerist was recently bought by Consumer's Union. The "non profit" organization that sells the magazine Consumer's Reports. the same rag that has different testing standards for different products to push the snobby/elite/more expensive ones.
last year they tested some child car seats differently to say the cheaper ones were deadly
last year they tested some child car seats differently to say the cheaper ones were deadly
AT&T Halts Online iPhone Sales to New York City Market
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The Consumerist reported over the weekend that AT&T has quietly stopped offering online iPhone sales to customers located in the New York City market. Responding to a reader report, The Consumerist verified the extent of the issue:
Follow-up comments from AT&T, however, have cast doubt on that explanation, with an official response noting only that AT&T may "periodically modify [their] promotions and distribution channels." Other customer support representatives, such as those contacted by Gearlog, have cited "increased fraudulent activity" from the area as the reason for removing online iPhone sales in the region.
Article Link: AT&T Halts Online iPhone Sales to New York City Market
The Consumerist reported over the weekend that AT&T has quietly stopped offering online iPhone sales to customers located in the New York City market. Responding to a reader report, The Consumerist verified the extent of the issue:
There seems to be some confusion, however, over the cause of the move, with a customer service representative initially stating that "New York is not ready for the iPhone" and that it doesn't "have enough towers to handle the phone." Such an explanation, while a bit surprising, was not considered completely illogical, as New York City has been a common source of complaints from consumers regarding network performance, and AT&T has acknowledged that it is looking to improve service there.
Follow-up comments from AT&T, however, have cast doubt on that explanation, with an official response noting only that AT&T may "periodically modify [their] promotions and distribution channels." Other customer support representatives, such as those contacted by Gearlog, have cited "increased fraudulent activity" from the area as the reason for removing online iPhone sales in the region.
Article Link: AT&T Halts Online iPhone Sales to New York City Market
Doubt Cast??
"AT&T may 'periodically modify [their] promotions and distribution channels.'"
Not so much doubt cast, unless one believes that such periodic modifications are random and mercurial.
AT&T sucks, plain & simple. They've been allowed to score big w/ their exclusive iPhone contract, and think that marketing will remedy the problem.
Wake up Apple.
"AT&T may 'periodically modify [their] promotions and distribution channels.'"
Not so much doubt cast, unless one believes that such periodic modifications are random and mercurial.
AT&T sucks, plain & simple. They've been allowed to score big w/ their exclusive iPhone contract, and think that marketing will remedy the problem.
Wake up Apple.
My towns on the list. North Jersey (in Bergen County) town. Awesome.
How does Apple let AT&T get away with this.
How does Apple let AT&T get away with this.
Haha, I can already see the next Verizon ad! This is pathetic. Surely Apple has worked out a deal with another carrier for 2010? At least AT&T doesn't completely suck where I work and play. Well, except my mother-in-laws house, which really sucks because what else am I supposed to do there? They don't even have wifi. I should have bought them a router for Christmas.
I'm pretty sure Apple is well aware of how royally ATT is screwing things up. The only questions are: 1) when does ATT's exclusivity actually end, and 2) which other carriers will Apple partner with.
Why all the complaining? If this is a move to increase the quality of service in NYC, isn't this a good move till they upgrade their towers? If it's truly because of fraud, that's understandable. AT&T should be truthful about reasons for their actions, maybe they have been.
If it's Verizon or T-Mobile, I wouldn't consider it a step up. I might consider going back to Sprint now that they've considerably improved their customer service and prices. For me, Verizon would be a lateral move, as their customer service, prices and billing are a serious detractor, and their network is actually worse that AT&T's here where I am.
Verdict: All American cell companies are garbage, period. Just another reason I'm considering moving overseas.
