iPhone 3G: Exchange for None of Us
News Analysis. Apple is doing a pretty good job of managing short iPhone 3G supplies for its company stores. But what about for AT&T stores? |
Eh, not so good. For the iPhone 2G, AT&T shortages were no big deal, other than regarding activations. But matters are much different for the iPhone 3G, because that's where people with special discounts and, more importantly, business accounts need to go. Corporate data plans, which are required for Exchange sync, mean going directly to AT&T. Apple boasts about Exchange sync support on updated iPhone 2G and new 3G devices, but enterprises won't get it from the company store. They need AT&T.
But AT&T has got no phones. Whoops, so much for Apple's big move into the enterprise. Consumers can get limited "push" capabilities when coughing up $99 a year for MobileMe—what Apple calls "Exchange for the rest of us." Right now, for business users, it's more aptly stated, "Exchange for none of us."
I called a handful of stores today, looking for iPhone 3G. For most stores, I couldn't get through (nobody answered the phone) or reached a voice mail option for being called back. On Tuesday and Wednesday, CNET Crave contacted 50 AT&T stores in 11 states. There were no iPhone 3Gs anywhere.
On Thursday night, I visited one of San Diego's larger AT&T company stores. There were no iPhone 3Gs to be had. Supplies were spotty—as in nearly none since last Friday's launch—and business customers could expect to wait a good 10 days or more for orders.
The only "exchange" going on in this store was sales of other phones or iPhone 3G gear. I bought two iPhone 3G cases; the AT&T store had a heck of a better selection than either San Diego Apple Store.
This particular AT&T store sure had a lots of people working—methinks in preparation for all that wonderful iPhone 3G business—and no one really very busy. Me wonders: How much is it costing AT&T to keep on extra staff for iPhone 3G, when there are no devices to sell? Not that I'm crying for AT&T, which is chalking up lots of new two-year contracts, extra data fees and customers churned from other carriers.
Surely AT&T must have learned something from last year's iPhone 2G launch. Apple is always going to favor its own stores, which is a whole lot easier when comparing 188 retail outlets with 1,800 AT&T stores. Just by volume, Apple Stores are going to be easier to restock.
So is the iPhone 3G really enterprise-ready? Sure, if you can buy one from an AT&T store. If.
Comments (3)
Ordered an iPhone at an AT&T store on 7-16 and picked it on 7-18. Less than 48 hours, no standing in line.
IF you want one, you can have one.
Posted by Bill | July 18, 2008 5:40 PM
I thought this post was going to be about the disaster that was the roll-out of MobileMe. Yesterday (or the day before), Apple sent word to reporters that they were overpromising on the features offered by MobileMe and even went so far as to strike the tag-line "Exchange for the rest of us" from all future advertising of the service.
Posted by Wes | July 18, 2008 9:05 PM
Corporate accounts are absolutely NOT necessary to sync with Exchange -- ActiveSync is a core part of the firmware, and I am happily syncing with my Exchange account on my iPhone 3G on a personal AT&T wireless account.
Posted by Dustin | July 19, 2008 2:56 PM