toggle

AAPL Stock: 431.77 ( 0 )

http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/05/05/apple.and.drenched.iphones/

Apple Stores allow swaps for waterlogged iPhones

updated 02:45 pm EDT, Tue May 5, 2009

 

Apple and drenched iPhones


Americans who accidentally soak their iPhones can now replace the device without special penalty, reports say. Detectors in the iPhone indicate whether the hardware has been submerged in liquid, traditionally invalidating any warranty claims when trying to secure a replacement. The policy has required some iPhone owners to not only pay for a new phone, but lengthen their contract with AT&T beyond the original two years.

Under the new scheme, visitors to an Apple Store can simply pay for the cost of a refurbished phone, without suffering any further extensions to their contract. If functional, the original SIM card is swapped into the replacement iPhone. The change in approach may represent part of an overall strategy at Apple, designed to clear out as many iPhone 3Gs as possible in advance of third phone launch in June or July.


by MacNN Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :

 iPhone, troubleshooting, Apple

Related Articles

Recent Articles

toggle

Comments

  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    -8
    05/05, 03:12pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Get rid of those 3G STAT!

    What a way to remove inventory.

  1. carloblackmore

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2005

    +4
    05/05, 03:50pm | report spam | Reply |

    iPhone torture

    Jeeze. First the Obama administration excuses the CIA for waterboarding - now Apple excuses customers for drowning their iPhones - have we no shame?!

  1. hayesk

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Sep 1999

    +4
    05/05, 04:16pm | report spam | Reply |

    Seems fair

    This should be standard practice. Why should I have to extend my contract if I'm paying full price for a replacement (or a refurbished model). It's not like I'm expecting to pay only $199 again.

  1. Glasspusher

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2000

    +5
    05/05, 04:42pm | report spam | Reply |

    torture justified

    c***, I was 4 months too early for this policy, but if I remember all I had to do was buy the 3G and upgrade my plan, I think $10 a month more for 3G.

    I feel the torture was justified, as I got useful information out of my phone in the process and this helped protect our freedoms from the terrists!

  1. climacs

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2001

    -4
    05/05, 05:44pm | report spam | Reply |

    does this

    happen often?

  1. kkingmd

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2008

    +2
    05/05, 10:07pm | report spam | Reply |

    I've done it.

    Between me and my extended family, we've dunked three iPhones. Successfully recovered all three.

    When your phone is dunked, immediately power off the phone. Yank the SIM card. Using compressed air, blow out as much of the water as possible. Set an oven (we used a toaster oven) to a low temperature (less than 200 degrees. Grab a cookie sheet and make a one inch pile of uncooked rice, pasta or something else. This will insulate the phone from the hot metal. Place the phone in the oven for 8-12 hours. When done, allow to cool to room temperature, replace your SIM and hopefully it'll power on without problems. Like I said, I done this three times with flawless recovery all three times. Remember power it off right away!

    KK

  1. cptodd

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2000

    +1
    05/05, 10:44pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Does seem to happen often

    So I was in an apple store in one of the chicago burbs trying to get help for my nano and within the span of 10 minutes TWO people came in with iPhone problems (their phones would not work). The people behind the bar took a little flashlight and looked in the headphone jack and at the bottom of the phone on both occasions. One time he said that one of the sensors had turned red (??) (I forget the color) and when he looked at the other person's phone he said that both had turned red (??). in both cases the service people said that the phone warranty was void. I was shocked and asked how easily these sensors were tripped and he said that it does not take immersion to trip them but then he assured me that it was not that easy to trip the sensors. (I should have asked him to look at the sensors on my 1st gen iPhone). He then proceeded to tell both parties that they could purchase new phones. Both parties said no and walked out.

    kkingmd,

    That sounds like a good plan. One thing. . . if you spill or accidentally dunk your phone in some other liquid other than water (especially sugary beverages) that might not work. As I understand it when sugary substances dry the sugar crystalizes and causes the motherboard to expand. That would certainly ruin the phone. But that is what i heard. I say still try. . .

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +1
    05/06, 09:36am | report spam | Reply |

    OMG

    Wait, first people get yelled at for not protecting their precious iPods which caused scratched screens, but now no one is complaining that one person's family somehow managed to dunk three iPhones?

    Are you people serious? Here's an idea. Don't take it into the bathroom. Problem solved.

Login Here

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

 
close
Photo
toggle

Network Headlines

toggle

Most Popular

MacNN Sponsor

Recent Reviews

Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad

Since the fourth-generation iPad didn't evolve much over its predecessor, the market for iPad accessories has remained somewhat static ...

Huawei Ascend Mate

The Huawei Ascend Mate is a phone that fits the screen-size gap between the 4 to 5-inch smartphone and the seven-inch or more tablet, ...

MaxUpgrades MaxConnect for 2006-2008 Mac Pro

Nobody outside of Cupertino's privileged bunch knows the future of the Mac Pro line for sure. Despite Apple's reluctance to tell us wh ...

toggle

Most Commented

 

Popular News