In an effort to stop the slow downward spiral of both Apple’s stock and the iPhone 4’s reputation, today, Apple announced it will offer free bumpers to iPhone 4 owners. The bumper is supposed to alleviate the now infamous antenna issue plaguing the new device. However, this particular tactical counter-measure isn’t what caught my attention — it is the return.
Apple has also said it will accept returns from iPhone 4 owners who don’t want their phone any longer. This situation and that offer represent a unique confluence in the smart phone market — something that provides an unusual “out” of a standard two-year contract. Since owning the iPhone 4, I’ve encountered a few dropped calls, calls going directly to voice mail, and weak signal strength. I do enjoy the capability of the phone as a device but when I need it to access the Internet or actually use it as a phone, I sometimes run into issues.
Thus, I would describe myself as someone who is seriously looking to jump ship and leave the Apple camp. With this purchase and subsequent offered return, owners of the iPhone 4 can stroll back into an Apple store, return the phone and opt-out of the two-year AT&T contract with little hassle and certainly no early termination fee. That is something to ponder if you, like myself, are considering a move to an HTC Android.