Several iPhone users are reporting one of the strangest issues concerning Apple's iPhone: tiny bubbles appearing behind the screen's glass layer. Some users have noticed the bubbles earlier, but decided they didn't bother them. Recently however, it has been discovered that the respective bubbles have a multiplying nature.

The good part is that Apple has responded to the issue immediately, promising to replace every iPhone that's caught "chickenpox," free of charge.

"I have about 8 to 10 bubbles on my display. It doesn't seem to affect functionality, but they are increasing in number and becoming an annoyance. I'm going to go for a replacement this weekend. It would be nice to get a 16 GB model," posts an engadget.com reader.

Apple Discussions threads go on forever about the situation, which doesn't seem to be an isolated one at all, which (again) means that Apple may have to replace a lot of iPhones:

-- "I have 5 bubbles thus far and more as showing up as the days go on"
-- "I just found one one my phone, its in the upper right hand corner under the battery icon. "
-- "I had this problem with my iPhone on the top-left corner of the screen. I brought it to the Apple Store; 15 minutes later, I leave with a brand new phone. A++++ customer service!!
-- "I have the same issue and I’m going to be taking my phone in tomorrow (Saturday, January 19, 2008) to see if I can get it fixed."

Constant increasing and decreasing of temperature inside the iPhone may be a factor (assuming they're air bubbles), but it's still Apple's fault to begin with. No worries though. As mentioned above, if you're one of the unlucky iPhone owners that has caught a "screen-rash," Apple will be glad to replace your device in a jiffy, free of charge too.

That is, if you haven't jailbroken it of course... Sorry man, a jailbroken phone is your responsibility alone. Apple Discussions won't even answer one's questions regarding any iPhone issue, if the iPhone in question has been hacked.