The Consumerist is reporting that AT&T has ceased selling iPhones on their website to NYC residents. When contacted by The Consumerist, AT&T spokesperson “Daphne” said:
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.
Oh my. Is this an admission that AT&T’s data network is not up to the task of supporting iPhones? Who knows, but AT&T quickly changed their story. They now claim they are doing this because of “fraudulent activity” in the NYC area.
New York. The biggest city in the United States, a place where I’m told many business and finance and media type people are living, cannot have the iPhone anymore? Does it say that somewhere in AT&T’s ads? Somehow I must have missed the little asterisk after the “We’ve got the fastest 3G network” phrase — the asterisk that takes you to a little disclaimer that says, “Except your phone won’t work for shit in the largest city in the United States.”
Update: Apparently the rash of fraudsters has been quelled. New Yorkers can now buy iPhone online again.