iPhone Battery Replacement An Unwelcome Surprise

epidemic99 writes "Apple has released what it will cost to replace the battery in the iPhone, and consumers might be a bit put off. Replacement is a tricky ordeal, as the battery is apparently soldered into the device. The service will cost $79, plus $6.95 for shipping, plus an optional $29 'loaner iPhone' rental. A consumer advocacy group sent a letter to Apple complaining that this information was not made public before iPhone's release since the cost of the battery replacement is so high. Even reviewer Harvey Rosenfield, who is usually very kind to Apple, was quoted as saying 'some of them might be waking up now, wondering who they got in bed with.'" Update: 07/06 21:06 GMT by Z : Fixed incorrect attribution of quote to Mossberg.

Comments

It's adding up

[BlueLightSpecial]

The internet on it is slow, many have had connection problems, a lack of customization ablilities, a fairly expensive cost already, and now a high cost of battery replacement remind me again why this is such a sought after item?

Well how long will it last?

[LWATCDR]

My current phone is almost 2 years old and the battery is just fine.
I have to say that this is just DUMB. Sorry Apple but you don't understand the cell phone market.
1. High end phone users often keep an extra battery to swap out.
2. Many phones offer an extended life battery.
Cell phone batteries need to be end user swappable.
I really had high hope for the Iphone but this combined with the closed development environment makes me think they just didn't do enough research. Of course I could be wrong. I never thought that Apple would move to Intel.

So what.

[presearch]

Would everyone still be bitching if the battery cost 80 bucks but was easily replaceble behind a little door?

Probably, you whiny babies.

You wanna change some batteries? Go play with your Maglite.

fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice

[cinnamon colbert]

shame on me
isnt this an old apple story "cool" stuff that is not well made at a high price ?
I don't know which is more offputting - ignorant reviewers like poge of the new york times or stpid consumers who think there is something "cool" in paying a lot of money

the 60s are really gone: what is "cool" about some large company that only cares about overpaying its top execs

how is that cool, other then being part of an evil sick system

I want my digital rights managed!

[hol]

Anyone willing to submit to Apple's digital rights management schemes, and their "I want a computer to treat me like an idiot" deserves what they get. Really.

Let 'em pay.

the iCar is next

[cliffski]

Only the wheels will be welded on. None of this wheel nuts nonsense for apple :D

Re:based on the cost...

[clifyt]

I now have a SE Z520a as I had switched to Cingular, and I believe the previous one was a SE T610 variant...it was the only one that SE had with Bluetooth on Sprint at the time (and it was crippled in this capacity and was a waste of money...the other variants could run Java, this one could only if signed by Sprint and wouldn't sign anything that was related to BT).

My Cingular phone is almost at the point where the battery is nearly dead too...I don't think its a first gen phone issue...

But why would anyone shut off their phone? Doesn't make sense? My iPod was running constantly and actually accessing the HD and the speakers and I'd routinely find that I forgot to stop play at night and have to charge it at work to have music on my ride home. Seriously...I used it A LOT.

As for the solder? You mean you can't pull the sticky tape off the battery on the iPhone and solder two leads??? Ones that aren't even soldered to the motherboard??? I'm sorry, I thought this was slashdot...my bad...

Re:Surprised?

[illumin8]

And hopefully by then, Microsoft has made an answering shot to the iPhone and I'll have the ability to choose the device suited best for me.

Hahaha... You actually expect Microsoft to design a phone that's as usable as Apple? Damn that must be some tasty kool-aid BillG has you drinking. Windows Mobile is up to what, 6.0? And still unusable as hell and has a freaking Start Menu... What mobile device needs a Start Menu? Apple did it right by taking the best ideas from Palm (have all applications accessible by simple icons and load instantly, or be running in the background). Windows Mobile still thinks it's a desktop computer so when I want to get someone's phone number I have to freaking wait for my Contacts application to load... "Just a minute there important business person while I load my Contacts application so that I can take your number down..."

If I see another moron carrying the iPhone and using it in a way just to show it off, I am going to smack them.

Sounds like you have a little case of iPhone envy... Just admit it, Apple blew Windows Mobile out of the market (what little share they had) and Microsoft will be forever playing catch-up to a 1.0 product that was barely released.

Re: proprietary parts

[0racle]

Really? See, I keep a charger with me. I also keep it charged so it's ready when I need it.