Sprint won't have own iPhone insurance, starts shipping 4S
updated 10:25 pm EDT, Sun October 9, 2011
Sprint moves on iPhone 4S insurance, shipping
An internal staff memo has warned Sprint iPhone buyers that they won't have its typical Total Equipment Protection insurance. Customers who buy the phone but need help will only be offered direct replacements when they qualify, SprintFeed has learned. Accidents and repairs will instead have to go through Apple, such as through its AppleCare+ plan.
Apple has typically insisted on handling as much of the support for iPhones itself when possible.
Alongside the insurance details, Sprint may have had the distinction of being the first US carrier whose iPhone 4S models were shipping. Early anecdotes from one 9to5 reader point to his white 32GB iPhone 4S shipping. Sprint's shipment is allegedly overnight, although Apple is known to deliberately hold shipments to coordinate a launch.
Electronista, MacNN and readers have noted that other, non-Sprint phones have moved into the "processing" phase, usually a sign that a shipment is imminent. Apple has promised the earliest batch of owners that the iPhone 4S would arrive by October 14 and is giving free accelerated shipping to make sure the phones arrive on time.
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Oct 1999
AppleCare+
I really wish AppleCare+ worked like regular AppleCare, and allowed you to purchase it later in the life of the product.