The Bumper surround for the iPhone 4 is quite clever.

[makefunnyfaces]

I'm for sure getting one just to try it out, but I'm not sure I like how the back is open. They will definitely make me more cautious about dropping my phone!

 

[dscuber9000]

Well, the bumper sticks out a tiny bit, so as long as the ground is flat, it isn't possible for the back to get hurt at all. Same with the front.

Personally, I don't like these phone protectors/cases.

 

[SiftWinnow]

I think what's being overlooked is that the case has built-in volume and sleep/wake buttons that overlay the actual buttons and help further protect your phone.

Not only can you see this is true on the pics here by how fair recessed the ring/vibrate switch is compared to the protruding volume buttons on the case: http://www.slashgear.com/iphone-4-hands-on-0788746/ , but it also details this fact on the apple website:

"Dress up your iPhone 4 with a Bumper. Choose one of six colors — white, black, blue, green, orange, or pink — and slip it around the edge of your iPhone 4. With metal buttons for volume and power, two-tone colors, and a combination of rubber and molded plastic, Bumpers add a touch of style to any iPhone 4." http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

So, you're getting a case made by the manufacturer of the phone that: protects the corners and edges of the phone which are the areas most likely to be damaged during a drop, has conceivably been designed at least in part to absorb impacts well and mitigate screen cracking, allows the phone to lay on the bumper instead of the actual front/back of the phone when laying flat on a table/desk to reduce hairline scratching (if even possible with the new glass), and that integrates overlaid buttons for the sleep/wake and volume to help protect the actual buttons while still providing easy access to them through overlaid buttons. All this while maintaining the slim profile and overall style of the phone as much as possible.

There sure are a lot of naysayers for something that appears to be a great case and surely something that I will be adding to my card on 6/15.

 

[gostan]

Count me in the no bumper or case crowd. All seem to detract from the design.

I have never dropped my 3G. No screen protector nd no scratches. But I remain. Bit concerned about wer & tear on new back glass from placing it on desk, table, etc.

 

[Malten]

jobs is a genius

Genius idea apple. They are selling these dinky little rubber things for $30. It cant cost them more then a couple of dollars. They already sold 1.7 million iphones. they also introduced colors so people are tempted to buy multiple cases so switch how their iphone 4 looks occasionally. They are making more money off these cases then they are the iphone, that is if you consider it costs them only $187.51 to make an iphone and most people are only paying 199 for a 16 gb(https://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/28/16-gb-iphone-4-component-costs-estimated-at-187-51/). If apple wasnt profiting emensly from this bumper, they would not have a case at all, they work to hard on the design to have it be ruined by a case.
Still, I believe the case will be beneficial towards the longevity of the phones life. Mine is waiting to be shipped.

 

[apprunner]

Genius idea apple. They are selling these dinky little rubber things for $30. It cant cost them more then a couple of dollars. They already sold 1.7 million iphones. they also introduced colors so people are tempted to buy multiple cases so switch how their iphone 4 looks occasionally. They are making more money off these cases then they are the iphone, that is if you consider it costs them only $187.51 to make an iphone and most people are only paying 199 for a 16 gb(https://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/28/16-gb-iphone-4-component-costs-estimated-at-187-51/). If apple wasnt profiting emensly from this bumper, they would not have a case at all, they work to hard on the design to have it be ruined by a case.
Still, I believe the case will be beneficial towards the longevity of the phones life. Mine is waiting to be shipped.

AT&T pays them an additional $400 per iPhone so Apple makes ~$400 per iPhone gross margin basis.