"The issue with IPhone's battery..." Topic

Apple Issues Battery Program for IPhone: link

The iPhone's battery is apparently soldered on inside the device and cannot be swapped out by the owner like most other cell phones.

I'm not exactly tech savvy, so why would a battery need to be soldered in place? With continual use and recharging, it'd be the first item needing replacement.

Users would have to submit their iPhone to Apple for battery service. The service will cost users $79, plus $6.95 USD for shipping, and will take three business days.

Pirates of Silicon Valley indeed…

The procedure is similar to the one it has for the company's best-selling iPod players, but because some users will not want to live without their cell phones, Apple is also offering a loaner iPhone for $29 USD while the gadget is under repair

I think I'll pass on buying an iPod. I have devices where the case has to be removed with a screwdriver in order to get to the battery, child's play compared with a soldered battery.

Not to sound like a schill for Verizon Wireless, but they've been offering products that do everything that the Iphone does on a better network. Iphone is a waste of money.

One theory is that they will actually issue you a refurbished iPhone with a battery change, rather than giving you the same phone back.

If that's going to be the case, then I'll avoid iproducts. I'll stick with my Sony Discman or buy an mp3 player from another company.

The iPhone is sounding less and less of a peice of vunder-technology. Yahoo News had a top five reasons for not buying one. For me it was the $600 USD price tag before buying a service plan. Yikes!

Wow! US$115 for a battery change!
But it won't stop iPxxx buyers.
After all style doesn't come free:-)

I wanted so much to like and buy the iPhone, but this issue alone crosses if off my list. Most cell phone batteries wear out after about a year of use, and apparently the iPhone's is expected to be the same (200 charges, about every 2 days).

I can't believe they went so far as to solder the battery to the circuit boards. Even after seeing the photos, I'm flabbergasted.

Nevermind the fact that its an AT&T only wireless plan, and even if I wanted to dole out $600 USD for one, I am in a region of the states with no AT&T wireless.

It seems like they are pulling a lot of grabass moves with this thing, not the sort of service and support that Apple had previously been noted for.

Given Apple's reputation for bleeding edge style that doesn't last with the initial release of everything they make, is anyone surprised?

Well link is offering iPhone replacement batterys for $20. USD There's an improvement.

Replacement within the first year is free under warranty.

In theory currently sold batteries should last two years, regardless of charge cycles, though the last six months of those two years could be a little irritating.

Apple says the iPhone battery should be good for 300-400 cycles, and with an eight hour talk time you're not going to be charging it every day.

So its not as bad as first blush, but I would still agree – batteries should be simple and cheap. Maybe their price will come down.

Andrew

Actually this is well within the parameters of Apple screwing with the fans – most people don't remember the auto-destruct power supplies in the original Apple Mac's, and are only just realizing the planned obsolescence of all the different 'generations' of the Ipod – no parts for old models.

Apple internationally has proven remarkably resistant to consumer protection laws that require them to deliver working product & offer repair or replacement at the customer's option.

Interesting link, Andrew. I wonder how that company proposes that the customers replace the battery? Few people will be willing to take apart their iPhones and use a soldering iron on it. I can't say as I'd blame them.

Cell phone battery swaps should be dead simple. I cannot understand what Apple could possibly be thinking here. I'm a big fan of Apple, which may be why I'm so incredibly disappointed at this decision.

Oops, forgot to add -- I always take manufacturer's battery life specs with a huge grain of salt. They always assume ideal conditions. With the iPhone, there's not only talk time, but WiFi time, iPod time, and other things that use the backlight.

Finally, many cell phone users are already in the habit of recharging overnight, whether or not the battery's fully drained. Since you can't change the battery for the iPhone on the fly, users will probably keep to that habit.