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The global launch of Apple's new iPhone descended into chaos yesterday as a glitch in the company's computer system meant that tens of thousands of customers were left unable to activate their devices.
The US, the UK and Canada were among the countries where customers were affected by a problem with Apple's website which meant they could not download a new version of iTunes, the software through which the iPhone connects to an owner's computer.
As customers got their hands on the new device and discovered their phones would not work, technology blogs began filling with a furious backlash. Gizmodo, the gadget blog, called the event an 'iPocalypse'.
Early yesterday morning, scores of UK customers who queued through the night to buy Apple's new iPhone when it went on sale were left disappointed after a separate computer problem prevented them from registering with O2, the exclusive carrier.
At Apple’s flagship Regent Street store in London, dozens of customers were forced to wait at least two more hours when the registration software operated by O2 failed.
At hundreds of O2 stores staff resorted to pen and paper to register customers desperate to get their hands on the updated phone which offers much faster access to the internet and a host of new applications.
Customers who buy the iPhone must register with O2 - the exclusive network carrier in the UK - at the same time because the device is bundled with a phone contract.
Eventually Apple staff at Regent Street were able to start signing up customers, but by mid afternoon it became clear Apple's website was struggling to cope with the influx of new iPhone owners requesting to download software.
The UK-based website www.phonesreview.co.uk ran a story titled 'Apple Truly Stitch Us Up: No iPhone 3G Handsets Are Killed' which attracted comments such as "Now myself and countless other iPhone users are ghoing to be phoneless," and "How can a company like Apple not be prepared for something like this?!?"
Even sites that are normally favourable to Apple, such as MacDailyNews were gloomy. "Massive demand affects Apple's iTunes Store," it wrote.
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Careful: iPhone doesn't sync with Outlook calendar.
Raf, Cardiff,
This launch was an utter shambles! We all know about the Apple philosophy of keeping supply short to keep the punters keen but in this case it has backfired bigtime! This is mainly due to Apple's appalling corporate greed in giving an exclusive distribution contract to the cheap and incompetent O2!
Mike, Balsall Common, England
Good. People who have nothing better to do with their lives than drool over a phone deserve all they get!!!
John Dixon, London, UK
Am I the only one to spot that in-store activation plus activation delays equals longer and more impressive queues for the TV news crews?
SJ is, after all, famous for his alleged attention to detail!
Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK
It's a shame this phone doesn't have a spell check facility looking at some of the messages posted here! Says it all about the users I think?
Clive, Plymouth,
Buy an ARCHOS
Matt, Southampton, Hampshire
13 hours in a queue to get a mobile phone. These people are fully grown adults. I'm embarrassed for them.
Edward Smith, London, UK
Despite ordering the iPhone 3G online at 0800 on Monday and being told by O2 staff that I would receive an iPhone on Friday, it never arrived. I've not been given an estimated delivery date either. We can't fault Apple entirely as the O2 staff were too arrogant to admit their own mistakes.
Khaled, London,
i got my phone from the o2 store in hackney. The queue was huge at 7.30 am. I found the mood fun and the staff came out to speak to us and offer drinks, the 2 hrs wait was worthwhile as i managed to get the precious 16GB phone which i was told is in low supply. o2 staff gave great servise and advise
jack, london,
I went a got my iphone yesterday morning, there were problems in O2 stores, but in Welwyn Garden City, Herts, the O2 staff did everything they could to sort the problems out, with everyone being in good spirits. I had no problems downloading the software from Apple, upgrading was not a problem.
Sarah, St Albans, UK
i upgraded mine online a it was delivered free to me at 8 am on launch day for free !!! and had activated it by 9 am , thank you o2 , all you ppl moaning bout queues and limited stock should learn to fill up an online form and order well in advance....kudos to o2 thnks for the excellent service
luke mcalister, Sale,
Oh no! its a scandal!, "disaster " too weak a word ! Sure the imbabweans feel your pain..... (any one for sarcasm?)
Graham, Sheffield,
Seems to me that an awful lot of people need to get a life.
stephen, Newcastle, UK
I'm sorry, but what a bunch of sad, sad people! If you get so worked up about having to get a new gadget on the first day it comes out, you seriously need to re-examine your life.
Nick, Zagreb,
Perspective people.
Its a mobile phone, hardly a disaster.
If thats all that we had to worry about in this world, things may not be as bad as we think.
Marc, Antrim,
How London-centric is this report, how about the rest of the UK?
Peter Snowdon, Birmingham, UK
I was at Ealing's o2 branch at 7:15am. we waited until 9:30 to be let in. there was a delay, as also their tills weren't working. turned out there was only 17 x 16gb models, managed to get one. everyone was in good spirits.
why on earth someone would queue from 1:30am in regent st is beyond me!
Beardo, Ealing,
I got one at wimbledon. I was the second person to walk out with one!!!
There was huge coas as existing O2 customers could not upgrade due to the glitch and all new customers had to be signed up manually!
Brad, wimbledon,
My iPhone 3G arrived this morning... critics will harp on about hype and style over substance but perception is reality and I percieve this phone to be absolutely brilliant !!! I will be putting my N95 on ebay soon and will not miss the clunky Nokia interface one bit... Happy days!
Leigh, Cardiff,
It's not just people going to the stores that are having trouble. There are many, many people waiting for their phones to be delivered that were ordered online on Monday. I have been told I won't get it until next Friday.
Marc Thomas, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
What's all the fuss about? i just downloaded a spanish language app for my holiday next week. And I have planned my route from Barcelona in the maps app too.... this iPhone 3G is ace ! :]
Leigh, Cardiff,
I've got an original iPhone, I could not down load the new 2.0 software this afternoon because of apples web site. I was going to upgrade to the new phone but, the main change is u get 3g access, which has less coverage than the edge network and in reality the speed difference is not that great.
rob , Birmingham, uk, UK
It's sad when people need the latest phone to feel fulfilled within their lives, queuing all night to get it. I find this hard to understand. It says a lot about our materialistic society. These people that queued all night seem to be intoxicated by the need for some sort of prestige.
Kevin, Salisbury, UK
I like the way that you can connect to a PC, log onto a number of free web sites and in 90 seconds put your previous sim card in (not 02) and everything works fine. I got my phone from the US by mail and paid the £22 duty (saving £42 from the UK price).
Jonathan Mills, Brighton,
I waited for an hour to get a phone , despite being told initially that they had enough for us they didn't and then all there systems crashed! What a fiasco o2 should be ashamed of such poor customer service.
Paul Hale, Westbury, UK
"Disaster" is too weak a word for what happened in London today.
It was complete chaos in the Apple Store on Regent Street this AM; I entered the store at 8:10AM and didn't leave until almost 1PM.
O2 staff at the store were arrogant and argumentative.
Apple staff were great, but couldn't do much
Dave, London, England
I got mine delivered at 13.12 this afternoon and still can't activate it !!! Phoned O2 and they said that it could take 2-3 days to activate because of the demand!!!!! I'm really angry as they should have foreseen this and taken measures to cover the overload.....
lisa, nottingham, uk
So much for ease of use :)
Farrukh, Woking,
Don't believe the hype from the O2 spokesperson - I have owned an iPhone 3G since 08:02 and 7.5 hours later it still isn't activated as the O2 activation server is down :(
Matt, Lowestoft, UK
I dont understand why we have this issue. Its just a phone with some other gadgets built in!!!
It doesnt cure cancer, it doesnt stop wars, it doesnt save the planet (I think you get the idea). Dont get me wrong, I love a good gadget but I cant think of one that I would stand outside a shop for hours on end to buy and get really angry when they are sold out. GET A GRIP.
Gary, London,
i got mine today tooo. Just have to get used to the touch screen but so far so good.
David,
www.joots.co.uk
David Joots, Hampshire, UK
I got one it's so cool!!!!!!
chris Allison , London , uk