Nearly two years after the fact — AT&T CS Rep: “New York is not ready for iPhone”. iPhone not available for sale online w/ NYC zipcodes.

The ongoing spiraling in a downward direction that AT&T’s image is continually traveling is both sad and entertaining. Could it be my sadistic side finding pleasure in an enemies misfortunes? Who knows. What I do know however is that reports from Consumerist this fine Sunday evening detailing a new revelation in the AT&T/iPhone drama are quite alarming to say the least.

Go to Apple’s or AT&T’s website and try and order an iPhone with any NYC zipcode — it won’t work. Now try any other major city in the continental US — business as usual. What gives? After Consumerist reader “Stephen” stumbled upon this little folly, Consumerist writer “Laura” went ahead and gave the ‘ol ball and chain a jingle to see if she could get any more info. The conversation she had was nothing short of eye opening…

Daphne: Welcome to AT&T online Sales support. How may I assist you with placing your order today?

Laura: Hi, I was looking at the iPhone 3Gs and the system tells me that I cannot order one in my ZIP code. My zip code is 11231. (Brooklyn, NY) Is this true? Are iPhones no longer available in New York City?

Daphne: I am happy to be helping you today . Yes, this is correct the phone is not offered to you because New York is not ready for the iPhone.

Daphne: You don’t have enough towers to handle the phone.

Laura: Thank you for your help. So the phone is not available to people anywhere in the city?

Daphne: Yes this is correct Laura.

Wow, just wow. Now before I come off sounding too critical, on the surface, limiting or restricting a device causing excessive network drain and load seems like an intelligent idea. That is until you look at the bigger picture — that which includes the restricted device being one of the most highly sought after smartphones in the world. It may temporarily slow down or even halt network load growth in NYC, but it certainly won’t improve the companies ever decreasing image. If anything, I see this move bringing even more attention to AT&T’s problems.

Of course, the question of “why bother?” comes to mind since strolling into any physical Apple or AT&T store will net your a shiny new iPhone. Perhaps they’re trying to cut off all of those lazy couch potatoes that suck down the data from the confines of their homes, eschewing the network saving WiFi no? There is also the question of why AT&T is taking so damn long upgrading their network in the first place.

What do you think? Is the restricting of iPhone sales online a good move or another drop in the already overflowing bucket of shame?

Consumerist