The iPhone 4 is pretty cool. BUT OHMAIGAWD ATT is making a huge freakin mess of the preorder process.
If you havent heard about this yet, click any or all of these articles:
http://gizmodo.com/5563909/apple-iphone-4-pre+ordering-is-a-total-disaster
http://gizmodo.com/5564262/apple-iphone-4-order-security-breach-exposes-private-information
http://gizmodo.com/5564913/proof-iphone-4-pre+orders-using-other-peoples-credit-cards-shipping-info
http://gizmodo.com/5565084/att-suspends-iphone-4-pre+ordering-after-system-collapse
What Happened?
First, the in-store preorder process was taking obscenely long amounts of time (20 minutes per costumer).
Then, Apple's online store couldnt process upgrades.
Then, people were being charged multiple times.
Then, people signing in to their ATT accounts ended up in other people's accounts.
Then, people noticed that the charges were going to someone else's credit card and/or shipping address.
THEN, ATT took down its online system.
THEN, ATT stores continued to take credit card and phone numbers, but not actually process orders (Using pen and paper in some instances...).
THEN, some ATT stores just closed their doors.
THEN, a bunch of preorders were converted to backorders.
What Did Apple Say?
Apple made a statement saying that over 600,000 preorders were taken in a single day and that this is far more than they had expected "resulting in many order and approval system malfunctions".
Why Did This Go So Bad?
I really cannot answer that question. OK, so they received more preorders than they are used to. They should be able to handle it. As far as I know 600,000 is not a big number at all in terms of processing data elements. But lets pretend it is, for now.
So their system was unable to process the immensely large number of preorders they received. I see how that could cause slow downs, malfunctions, and failures. But THERE IS NO EXCUSE for the system to start logging people into other people's accounts, or to charge the wrong credit cards, or to set the wrong shipping addresses.
Those bold items are unacceptable, and represent a huge breach of security for ALL ATT customers.
What needs to be done?
At&t should trash everything that was processed and start over after they get their act together. They really screwed up on this and it may take some time before people can begin to trust ATT again.