iPhone: No AT&T vacations between 6/15 and 7/12
We have a launch window for the 3G iPhone.
Around this time last year, AT&T Mobility sent a memo to employees asking them not to schedule vacations between June 15 and July 15. The company wanted all hands on deck for the launch of the original iPhone. The thing arrived on Friday, June 29, in the dead center of the vacation-free zone.
Well, they've done it again. With the 3G iPhone widely expected to be released in June, AT&T (T) sent a similar memo, which has fallen into the hands of The Boy Genius Report. It's copied below in full. As you can see, the launch window this year seems to be between June 15 and July 12, with a midpoint during the weekend that starts Friday, June 27.
Apple's (AAPL) Worldwide Developers Conference runs from June 9 to June 13, with a Steve Jobs keynote expected (but not yet scheduled) on the first or second day. Friday June 27 is two days before the anniversary of the launch of the first iPhone. Mark your calendars.
The memo:
AT&T Mobility
Vacation Schedules
To: All Employees
Last year at this time we asked that all vacations be scheduled before June 15 or after July 15, to ensure adequate store staffing and to give everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from an exciting product launch. Thanks to your hard work, we experienced excellent sales during the mid-summer period. This year, the numbers you produced in 2007 will be hard to beat; but as a business, we must rise to the challenge, and make every effort to exceed last year’s sales results. Your management team is counting on you!
We’ll meet the challenge “head-on” by providing an exciting Summer Promotional Launch to enable your sales to soar. We again anticipate heavier than normal customer traffic in our stores, providing an excellent earning opportunity for every front line retail sales consultant (RSC) in company owned retail stores.
To ensure proper staffing during this period, Sales personnel planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their vacations before June 15 or after July 12 to participate in the heavy selling period
Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling is not feasible
No additional vacation will be approved for 6/15 – 7/12
If customer traffic is manageable, there may be an opportunity to approve vacation toward the end of the period. Managers will communicate updates as they become available.
The new 3MG iPhone is proudly coming to stores on June 29, 2008. I'm extremely excited! I'm going to buy it the first day, whether if I have to wait 2 hours or so. It's the only thing I've been wanting for one full year. I was going to get the iPhone tomorrow, but then i found out about the release of the new one. Do you think it's worth to wait? I DO! I can't wait! 
I count two missing periods and I see no place where there should be a comma where there isn't one. Are you sure you know what commas are used for? When in doubt, leave it out!
You are kidding, right? You honestly think that AT&T employees are unhappy about this? Go into a store and tell me those people are unhappy. Every time I go into my local store, the employees eyes light up when I ask if they have any information on the new iPhone. AT&T is not a sweatshop, they are a retail provider and they are trying their best to spread the wealth among the front line employees, and provide SUPERIOR customer service on a device that costs nearly as much as a cheap laptop. I don't see anything wrong with asking employees to not take vacation for 1 month during such a crucial selling period. I am sure the first couple of weeks of that period is training employees on the new device, and then two weeks of crazy selling (did you see the report of 800 newly marked containers bound for apple?). If you are going to Verizon just for that, you are making a horrible mistake. AT&T's 3G network is newer than Verizon's, and because it's the same one used worldwide, much easier for them to upgrade and expand. Why do you think T-Mobile is just getting started…. they wanted the cost of equipment to get cheap enough. It's too bad they waited so long, because I'll be leaving them this month. I would get off your moral high-horse and go with the device you want. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all have very equal customer service scores….. It's Sprint that screws it all up!
"I’m planning on buying new cell phone service this summer. This finalizes my decision….It will be Verison. I’m not buying a product from a company that messes with employee vacations. The morale must already be terrible at AT&T, this will make it worse….Unhappy employees = subpar service."
What about an Nextel iphone?????
does anyone care about the 14yr old kids that are stuck with a 2in thick phone???????
Seems everybody has an opinion on AT&T service. I have never had problems with the service or with Verizon. Both are reliable. The old "AT&T Wireless" network was abandoned by Cingular before the merger with AT&T which formed AT&T Mobility. As with any network, service may vary by location, equipment, or your perception.
i cant wait i'm so happy VERIZON didnt strike this deal with APPLE WHAT DISASTER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN!!! can YOU hear me now??? GOOD!!! AT&T ALL THE WAY!!
"To the “messing with vacation” poster, where do you work? I work in a Union shop and can only take vacation when the company tells me there are slots available by my seniority. They are telling people for just 4 weeks they can’t schedule a new vacation and that they will honor vacations already shceduled. That sounds fair to me to support a major launch."
Don't forget AT&T employees other than management are part of the Communication Workers of America.
And what the memo states is at the same time last year for the release of the iPhone they blacked out the time period. They are asking it again this year due to strong sales from last year. Nothing specifically said about a new iPhone.
It would be such a shame if this memo was a hoax and the price drop was the same. I have my hopes up so high. I wonder if this offer will go for those able to upgrade our cell phones but are already current customers?
AT&T service is not great. When the Iphone comes out for Verizon, then I'll might get one. For now, Blackberry is the way to go!
@R.C. — Is T-Mobile service any better in Phoenix? Because AT&T and T-Mobile are the only nationwide GSM phone companies. If you are hoping for Verizon or Sprint, it isn't going to happen — Apple won't start making a second incompatible iPhone that won't work in Europe.
Arguably AT&T has better U.S. coverage than T-Mobile (certainly true when it comes to 3G). Apple made the only real choice it had when it picked AT&T. Yes, I would have much preferred an unlocked phone, but that only really matters for foreign travel.
Video iChat capability is the reason I'll buy the iPhone, and that will only happen when they put the camera on its face. Is this the one?
I have to disagree with Cliff on this one. I think this memo is genuine.
If you noticed, each sentance starts with a capital letter. Only someone over 40 would be prone to that style of punctuation.
Sarah_K: Dahling, what should I do if, heaven forbid, someone mistakes me with my new 3G iPhone for a commoner such as yourself with a 2G iPhone?
Not so fast my friends. Notice the poor punctuation in the memo (missing periods and commas). I'm assuming that a memo from top tier management would be proofread. Might be a hoax.
AT&T service is terrible so i didn't buy an iphone and I wont be buying the new one. I wonder if apple knows how much business they lose because of this terrible arrangement.
"Sarah_K: what should I do with my one year 2G phone that AT@T sold me for almost $300 only a year ago?"
Does your phone still work? $300 for a years use of one of the most superior phones out there for less than $1 a day. I suggest you keep using it or sell it to me for $50 and you can pay the full price for a 3G model if you need it so much. AT@T or Apple do not owe you or anyone else an upgrade path for a 'disposable' electronic device. The iPhone isn't a software package Deal with it.
To the "messing with vacation" poster, where do you work? I work in a Union shop and can only take vacation when the company tells me there are slots available by my seniority. They are telling people for just 4 weeks they can't schedule a new vacation and that they will honor vacations already shceduled. That sounds fair to me to support a major launch.
To the upgrade poster – I don't think you can upgrade a 2G phone to a 3G one with a software push. The hardware itself is different for the two technologies.
It'll be interesting to see if sales are as robust as they were for the first launch, with long lines and whatnot. I would bet a lot of iPhone 1.0 buyers aren't ready to shell out another 300+ dollars this soon again.
I see $220. in AAPL's future 3G this technology was a dream 10 years ago now it is here unbelievable!To get your Apple stuff at wholsale prices visit: http://www.seeksomething.com
It's very nice to see how the mobile communication business is changing. It was quite unusual to see small companies serving the customers with stone age technology at extremely high prices and develop to multi-billion corporations.
I'm planning on buying new cell phone service this summer. This finalizes my decision….It will be Verison. I'm not buying a product from a company that messes with employee vacations. The morale must already be terrible at AT&T, this will make it worse….Unhappy employees = subpar service.
No offense, but were several comments necessary to point our what one poster accomplished…it was obviously an honest mistake.
what should I do with my one year 2G phone that AT@T sold me for almost 300$ only a year ago? are they going to provide upgrade program for customers like me if I want the 3G model?
And I hope you learn to read before another memo is leaked. The very first sentence makes it clear that the June 15 – July 15th dates were from the year prior.
ex ped: Keep reading the memo. By the time you finish the dates should be clear.
I hope that AT&T gets their act straight before the summer because the "No Vacation" window dates are not consistent in the Company wide memo. June 15 to July 15 then June 15 to July 12. I know its a minor point, nonetheless a bad start. Either way I will be first in line.
I've had Verizon and AT&T and they both stink. I have Verizon FIOS for my home (tv, phone, net) and they overcharged me almost a thousand dollars. I went nearly four months without paying a bill on the credit from their mistake.
My iPhone is at least as good as the Verizon LG in terms of phone quality. Verizon would drop calls without a sound leaving me talking on the other end with no idea that the line was dead. At least, ATT lets you know when their service fails.
Customer service is a joke on the phone. The in store people I have dealt with have been at ATT and Verizon here in Sarasota. Furthermore, if you want an iPhone you don't even need to deal with ATT.
For people sniping at ATT or Apple, I hope you work for some competing company or you might want to find something more worthwhile to obsess over.