To Apple, INC. and AT&T, INC.

We, loyal Apple and AT&T Customers, as well as prospective new customers, would like to express the following sentiments in response to the introduction of the iPhone 3G and new purchasing policies for this device:


* The claim both companies are making about the iPhone 3G being less expensive than the first generation iPhone are false and deceptive due to the price increase for data on AT&T's network. The increase leads to $240 of incurred data charges along the 24 month contractual period, making it more expensive at the end of the contractual agreement.

* The lack of non-subsidized prices for the iPhone 3G is a clear attempt to limit the consumer's liberty. There are consumers that would not like to extend or purchase new contracts, even if they ultimately use AT&T as their service provider.

* The service plans for cell phone, data, and text messaging, are extremely expensive for the average consumer and are not competitive with other carrier plans. Unfortunately, using the iPhone 3G with another carrier such as T-Mobile is impossible without incurring hefty Early Termination Fees. This is the same attempt to limit the consumer's liberty as described above.


Apple, within the last decade, has historically presented itself as a company that has modernized its customer relations strategy. Ever since the introduction of the iMac, iPod, and other popular devices, Apple has carried itself as a company that provides an excellent experience for the customer. This experience bases itself on providing very high quality and almost fail-safe products, as well as the ease with which the products and purchased and used. This week, Apple has decided that it is going to continue providing high-quality products, abandoning the ease with which the products are purchased. We, as loyal Apple customers and also as prospective customers, declare the new policies for purchasing the new iPhone 3G as limiting, deceptive, and dissapointing.

The new policies also present a high level of retail inefficiency in the purchasing process. These new processes will very likely affect the customer's experience in the following way:

*Previously, iPhone customers were able to purchase the device in-store or online and activating it at home. With the new procedures, customers will have to sign a contractual agreement and activate the phone before leaving the store. The process of signing a contractual agreement with AT&T will not be a fast one and will thus create exceptionally long waiting times. This in turn will degrade the customer's purchasing experience and will also create an overcrowding effect in retail outlets.


We ask Apple and AT&T to reconsider the policies that will be in effect in July 11th, 2008, when the Apple iPhone 3G will be available for purchase.