AT&T has resumed online sales of the iPhone in New York City but is still refusing to explain why sales in the area were blocked over the Christmas holiday. Customers who tried to buy the phone on the company’s website and entered a NYC zipcode were told the iPhone was not available and directed to choose something else. On Monday morning the device was suddenly made available again.
When asked why NYC was suddenly excluded from online sales, AT&T released a cryptic and more or less unhelpful statement:
“We periodically modify our promotions and distribution channels.”
Speculation rose that it was clumsy attempt to reduce data usage, which has become a growing problem on AT&T’s struggling 3G network. AT&T’s CEO, Ralph de la Vega said earlier this month that the company was looking at ways to control data usage and that 3% of the company’s smartphone users are responsible for 40% of it’s traffic. That 3% is presumed to be iPhone users. The Associated Press reported however, that the reason for the block in online sales may have been because of a spike in fraudulent activity in the area.
The iPhone was never taken off the shelves at any of the company’s NYC area retail stores.
Read [InformationWeek]
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