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Consumerist Says AT&T Site Won't Sell iPhone In NYC, Citing Network

Posted by timothy on from the sounds-a-bit-hinky dept.

cowp writes "A Consumerist tipster couldn't get AT&T's website to sell him an iPhone when he shopped using an NYC ZIP code, but could when he tried other cities' ZIPs. Consumerist asked an AT&T CSR and seems to have gotten confirmation that this is carrier policy: 'Yes, this is correct the phone is not offered to you because New York is not ready for the iPhone. You don't have enough towers to handle the phone.' Considering Apple's gadget is currently the most popular handset in the US, its exclusive carrier's inability/unwillingness to support the device in the country's largest market is pretty huge news. If this proves true, I'd expect curtains for AT&T's exclusivity deal when it comes up for renewal." If you're in NYC, can you confirm or deny this outlandish-sounding claim? Updated 20091227 1:03 GMT by timothy: Headline, now corrected, inaccurately named Apple rather than AT&T. Mea culpa.

3 of 420 comments (clear)

  1. Spin by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can we stop saying things like 'the most popular handset?' When we're talking about a market where no single handset has more than about 1-2% market share, saying 'the most popular' is entirely meaningless.

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  2. Re:This has been an issue for quite awhile. by dov_0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This from the most technological advanced country on the planet.....

    AT&T happy to take customers money, not willing to spend millions for a working network.

    I didn't see any mention of Japan in TFA?

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  3. This is exactly why I have an iPhone by Man+On+Pink+Corner · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not because it's the best phone available, which it might or might not be depending on who you ask, but because there's a guy in Cupertino with a black turtleneck, a borrowed liver, and a really shitty attitude who owns the exact same phone I do, and who has the power to make it suck less.

    Even if he has to stare down AT&T to do it.

    What other phone manufacturer can go to bat for their customers like that?