iPhone News Updated

iPhone Buyers Now Eligible for AppleCare+ up to 30 Days After Purchase

Indecisive Apple fans take note: Apple’s just made a subtle modification to its AppleCare+ system such that you no longer have to make the life-or-death decision to purchase the warranty service immediately after buying an iPhone.

According to the new changes posted to Apple’s official AppleCare+ website, customers will have up to 30 days from the point of their original iPhone purchase to decide whether they would like to purchase AppleCare+ as well. Only, there’s one small catch: Buying AppleCare+ after the fact requires a trip down to an Apple Store and a Genius Bar appointment, where Apple techs will inspect the iPhone to ensure that it isn’t already damaged prior to the warranty service kicking in.

Apple’s also extended the amnesty period for those who have recently picked up an iPhone. Customers who purchased the smartphone within 30 days prior to any date between 11/14 and 12/15 will also be allowed to add an AppleCare+ plan, although it’s unclear whether Apple’s also mandating a Genius Bar trip for these purchasers.

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Would-Be iPhone Customers Still Facing Weeks-Long Waits

More than a month after the Apple iPhone 4S went on sale, the three largest U.S. wireless carriers are still struggling to keep up with customer demand for it.

Verizon Wireless customers may have to wait more than three weeks for the device, according to the carrier’s website. That compares with as much as 21 days at AT&T and up to 14 days at Sprint Nextel. While some tech blogs have suggested Apple’s manufacturing isn’t keeping pace, the carriers point to unexpectedly strong demand for the handset.

“We are having some supply issues in the sense that demand’s huge,” AT&T’s president of emerging devices, Glenn Lurie, said Wednesday. “We have had just record-breaking sales on it.”

The carriers are relying on the device to goose contract subscriber growth this quarter. Verizon Wireless and AT&T both reported slowdowns in iPhone activations in the most recent quarter, saying the more modest results were due to customers delaying action in anticipation of the latest model’s release.

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