Do you have an iPhone 4? Are you considering getting one soon? Then I’m sure you have heard about the antenna issue where if the iPhone is held the wrong way you can drop calls! Well, if you bought (or buy) your iPhone before September 30th, 2010 you will be eligible for a free bumper (a protection that goes around the outside edge of the phone) or a free third-party case from Apple.
How do I get my free iPhone bumper or case?
You know the commercial “there’s an app for that?” Well, if you want your free bumper or phone case there’s an app for it. Seriously. To apply for your free bumper or case go to the App store and download the iPhone 4 Case Program app (link will bring you to the iTunes store). Open the app and sign in using your iTunes account or store ID then select your bumper or case.
If you bought your phone before July 23rd, 2010 then you have until August 22nd, 2010 to get your case. If you buy an iPhone between July 24th, 2010 and September 30th, 2010 then you have 30 days from your purchase date to claim your bumper or case.
What if I already bought a bumper but I qualify for a free one?
If you already bought your bumper then you will be reimbursed (including taxes and shipping fees) depending on how you purchased it:
Credit card – Your purchase should be refunded to your card. You don’t have to do anything.
Gift card, check, or cash at an Apple store – Return with your receipt to get your refund (you saved your receipt, didn’t you?). You have until September 30th.
Apple Online Store gift card – They will automatically mail you a new gift card.
AT&T store purchase - If you bought a bumper from an AT&T store then you need to fill out this rebate form (this will open as a pdf) and mail it in by September 30th, 2010. The rebate will be mailed to you once processes.
Check the Apple site here for exact details of the program and the terms and conditions.
What do you think of this free iPhone bumper program?
I’m not sure about the exact details of this antenna problem but it seems disappointing that any type of problem should slip past Apple and make its way to the consumer. The iPhone pushed the limits of what cell phones can do and helped make competitors up their game. I love my Mac and would love an iPhone if I weren’t already locked into a sick cell phone deal with Sprint but the cost of the service and now a call issue (yes, cell phones are still sued for calls) might make me think twice or at least wait to hear that the issue is resolved. Giving away a free bumper or case is a nice move on Apple’s part and came pretty quickly. Hopefully the antenna problem isn’t as big as it sounds and will be corrected on later models.
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I definitely agree with you about this whole problem being disappointing. They’re on their fourth model of a phone (which implies with the name that you should be able to make calls on it) and they’re having a sever issue. This seems like something they should have caught and corrected before releasing it, instead of just offering a free gift after purchase. Are they actually planning on correcting the issue after September 30th? Or do people that buy one after that just have to deal with the fact that they bought a phone with calling issues without even the consolation of a free case?
I’m not sure what the exact resolution is for the reception problem.
No iPhone yet. Waiting for them to be available with Verizon, not worth it yet.