14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone carrier AT&T has resumed the New York online sales of its hottest device, the Apple iPhone. The wireless services provider, as many of you might have learned already, has halted the sales of the handset via its website a few days ago for those living in the New York metropolitan area; yet, it seems that, starting with Monday afternoon, the iPhone will once again be available for them.
Users willing to purchase the iconic device who supplied New York City ZIP codes received the following message: “We're sorry, there are no Packages & Deals available at this time. Please check back later.” However, the online sales are back, and there are no exact details on whether the entire New York metropolitan area was affected, or only a series of ZIP codes.
According to an AT&T spokesperson, the sales were halted due to a change in the company's distribution channels. However, speculations ranged from fraud to issues with the carrier's network, the latter being more plausible. There are no exact details on why New York was affected, which fuels the rumors regarding possible network congestion issues, which AT&T is familiar with.
AT&T is the only wireless operator in the US distributing the Apple iPhone, yet it is expected to lose that exclusivity in the upcoming year 2010. Verizon Wireless, the largest carrier in the country, has already announced plans to deliver the device to its users when the deal between AT&T and Apple comes to an end, and others might make the same move.
The iPhone 3GS 16GB is currently available from AT&T priced at $199, with a two-year contract agreement on a qualifying monthly plan, while the iPhone 3GS 32GB costs $299. It should be interesting to see whether the availability of the device via a wider range of carriers will start a price war, just as it did in other markets where distributors lost their exclusivity on the iPhone.