I also thought it was interesting that AT&T got the type of phone wrong on my account. Though I bought an 8, they had it listed on their site as a 4. No difference in price (as far as AT&T is concerned), but another sign that the lines of communication between Apple and AT&T may not be working all that well.

Michele, hard to believe you got such duds.

As for the quality, I’ve acidentally dropped it from 4 feet straight onto concrete twice (you can see the places of impact on the casing), it sat in my hot car all day during a 108 degree weather last weekend and it works perfectly. I find the connection quality and sound to be much better than the motorola phone i was using previously.

Wireless-phone industry tactics criticized
3:39p ET July 11, 2007 (MarketWatch)
Wireless-phone industry tactics criticized

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday took the wireless-phone industry to task, criticizing high early-termination fees and the inability to use mobile devices such as the new iPhone on different networks.

Before switching to another wireless provider, mobile customers usually have to pay $175 or more to terminate their current plan and they have to get a new phone. Devices that work on one U.S. wireless network rarely work on another – in part because carriers use different technologies or have exclusive marketing arrangements with handset makers.

The new iPhone by Apple Inc. is a case in point. The device, costing $500 to $600, is only available via AT&T Inc., with an early-termination fee of $175. Yet the AT&T network on which the iPhone operates is much slower than rival networks when it comes to Internet access.

Rep. Edward Markey, chairman of a key House committee on telecommunications, noted that customers who don’t like AT&T’s network can’t move to another provider.

“You’re stuck with your iPhone and you can’t take it anywhere,” the Massachusetts Democrat said.

Markey and other lawmakers leveled their criticism Wednesday during a hearing ostensibly to determine whether the federal government should bar states from regulating the wireless industry. Mobile carriers say it’s very costly to comply with multiple state laws.

At present, states can oversee the terms and conditions of wireless plans but are prevented from regulating prices.

For the most part, though, lawmakers spent their time focusing on wireless-industry practices that they say hurt consumers and stifle innovation. Many would like to see companies reduce early-termination fees or allow subscribers to use their handsets on any network they choose.

Several industry critics who testified at the hearing noted that Asia and Europe obligate carriers to ensure that any device will work with their networks.

Wireless entrepreneur Jason Devitt, chief executive of SkyDeck, said 800 devices would work on Vodafone Group plc’s wireless network in Europe, whereas only 30 devices work on Verizon’s network in the U.S.

He accused mobile operators such as Verizon and AT&T of having a “deathgrip” on handset choices in the U.S.

Wireless executives defended the industry, saying it’s highly competitive and arguing that costs to consumers would rise if government required devices to work on all networks.

Some lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, also expressed reluctance to tamper with what most acknowledged was a healthy and fast-growing industry.

“The wireless-service market is vigorously competitive,” said Fred Upton, R.-Mich.