iPhone v2.0 Upgrade Hell!

Apple has finally released v2.0 of the iPhone firmware and the 3G iPhone.  Great news!  At least that's what I thought.  I have owned an iPhone for about a year now...  I have updated the firmware to pick up the new/interesting additions and bug fixes with no issues.  So, I would naturally assume that upgrading to v2.0 would be just as easy.  Well, I guess that's where the saying: assume=ass u me comes from...

The release of v2.0 upgrades for existing iPhone users and the new 3G iPhone at the same time has overloaded the activation server.  I can understand how this happens (technically), but Apple should have anticipated the load and built up the infrastructure prior to the release of the products!  This isn't their first rodeo, they forcasted (and counted) on the demand... So, why didn't they spend a little money to further build out the activation infrastructure to handle the additional activation load?  They obviously handled it from the site that serves the upgrades... Nobody seems to have any problems downloading and installing the upgrade, they just can't re/activate afterwards.

The major issue for previous iPhone users is...  the asinine model that requires the iPhone to be re-activated after every firmware upgrade.  Without activation, the phone is useless...  So, there are lots of people that are extremely upset with Apple at this point because their phones have been bricked until the activation server is upgraded to handle the load (or they get lucky after clicking back and forth between the iPhone button in iTunes).

Another major problem with Apple is...  There is no information about activation delays on their web site!  iTunes prompts you with cryptic errors messages that don't even warrant a search hit on the Apple support site.  What is up with that?  After reading other blogs, I am seeing that some people are waiting on the phone for technical support, and after an hour or so... they get to talk to someone or the call is just disconnected.  Not good.

Apple has made a huge mistake with this release...  They should have invested in the activation server infrastructure to handle the load (the estimated load * 2), and if there are problems...  Post something on your web site!  People are going there first, so at least man up and give the users (that you have screwed) some information on what's going on, and when we can expect the problem to be resolved!

Also, you need to re-think the re-activation requirement for existing iPhone customers.  The last thing you should do is de-activate something that is currently working for an end user.  This is a very quick way to lose customers.  The iPhone is a great product, but it's not the only one on the block.  There are a lot of touch competitors coming into the space, and they will be more than happy to take the disgruntled Apple customers!

So, in closing...  Apple --  WAKE UP!  And take care of your customers!