The launch of Apple’s 3G iPhone has turned into a disaster for both Apple and O2 with one problem after another. Firstly, there was a serious shortage of the handsets when they were launched last week and O2 tested existing customers’ loyalty when they provided separate avenues for new and existing customers to order the iPhone. This resulted in only the requests from new customers to be processed. As if that wasn’t enough, O2’s credit check computer system crashed on last weeks launch day meaning all orders had to be processed manually by the staff in O2 stores.

Now there has been another surge in complaints after those lucky enough to get their hands on a new 3G iPhone got it home only to discover that they could not activate it. The latest problem is with Apple’s activation system. Customers were attempting to register/activate their new handsets through Apple’s iTunes system only to find the system failing. It is believed that this was due to users across the world trying to process activation at the same time making the system crash under pressure. This is something both O2 and Apple should have been under no illusion with either. The release of the original Apple iPhone gave them an indication of the popularity of the phone so to be short of stock and have inadequate systems to cope with demand can not be excused.

One disgruntled customer has even set up a website for frustrated owners and said “Some have been told it might not work until Thursday.”
Further technology chat rooms were inundated with complaints about the latest problem with the iPhone. One poster on engadget.com said: ‘Was this Apple arrogance or incompetence? Or both? Truly an unacceptable business decision by all Apple execs. If Microsoft and RIM are not out today filming a commercial for their software and phones, respectively, then they are even more incompetent than Apple.’

There is no doubt that there is still a huge demand for the iconic 3G iPhone but we can’t help but feel that the launch has been undermined by O2 and Apple respectively letting their customers down.
Apple has yet to make any comments.