Hoping to make customers happy after complaints of an antenna problem on Apple's new iPhone 4, CEO Steve Jobs said Friday that his company will send free bumpers, or cases, to current owners and consumers who buy the phone through Sept. 30.
In addition to protecting the phone, a bumper solves a problem for iPhone 4 owners who hold the device in a way that puts their hand on the wraparound stainless-steel antenna, blocking reception.
At a news conference at his company's Cupertino headquarters, Jobs said Apple will provide cases made by third-party providers because the company can't make enough of the Apple-branded $29 plastic bumpers that encircle the iPhone.
Customers will be able to order them online starting next week. "Pick a case — zoom, we'll send it off to you," Jobs said.
Jobs said Apple has sold more than 3 million iPhone 4s and a white iPhone will start shipping at the end of July.
Jobs also said the iPhone will be rolled out to 17 more countries, from Australia to Switzerland.
"I'd like to give you a feel for what we care about and how we operate and how we make our decisions. We love our users, we really love them. We try very hard to surprise and delight them. We work our asses off. And it's great, we have a blast doing it," Jobs said."When we fall short, we try harder," Jobs said. "We pick ourselves up, we figure out what's wrong, and we try harder. And when we succeed, they reward us by staying users. When we have problems like this and people are criticizing us, we all take it really personally."
Jobs also said the company will offer full refunds for those who remain unhappy with the iPhone 4 and return their undamaged phones within 30 days.
Asked if AT&T also will give refunds to customers who bought iPhone 4s from the cell carrier and let them get out of their two-year contract, Jobs said: "I believe so — yes."
Apple won't provide refunds on third-party cases already purchased by iPhone 4 owners. He said the number of those customers was very small.
Apple will, however, refund the cost of the bumper for customers who already bought one from Apple.
Earlier, Jobs said, "You know, we're not perfect. Phones aren't perfect. We want to make all our users happy."
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