Insurance For iPhones

Today is the day that you can get your hands on the newest technology from Apple, the iPhone 4.  People have been standing in line for days so they can get the iPhone 4 today.  So many people, in fact, there are stores that have already sold out of the iPhones.   It seems that so far, the iPhone is doing great for most customers. There has been some negative feedback, though.  Some buyers have reported yellow lines or spots on the screens and others have said that the amount of reception you will have at any given time is unpredictable.

Now that the new iPhones are on sale, it is the perfect time to purchase iPhone insurance from Worth Ave. Group.  They have the lowest prices you can find, along with the best coverage.

As of yesterday, the iPhone 4 is available for preordering.  If you didn’t order early yesterday, though, you’ll have to wait.  Both Apple and AT&T are suspending preordering sales because nearly 10 times more customers than expected preordered an iPhone 4.  On the apple website, the white iPhone 4 is unavailable for preordering.  Black iPhone 4’s are available, but the pick-up date has been moved back to July 2nd, instead of the original date of June 24th.

According to AT&T, ”[g]iven this unprecedented demand and our current expectations for our iPhone 4 inventory levels when the device is available June 24, we’re suspending pre-ordering today in order to fulfill the orders we’ve already received.  The availability of additional inventory will determine if we can resume taking pre-orders.”

Worth Ave. Group now has iPhone 4 insurance.  You can go to Worth Ave. Group’s website and see the prices and all the information for the new insurance available.

Apple claims that the glass on the front and back of the new iPhone 4 is, “20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic.”  But, according to a quick test done on the new iPhone 4, the glass casing isn’t really as strong as Apple makes it seem.  The iPhone 4 was dropped from 3.5 feet three times in this test, and after the first two drops, it was fine.  But on the third drop, the screen shattered, as shown in the picture. 

Apple does not offer coverage for accidental damage.  If the screen of your brand new iPhone 4 could do this when you drop it, then you need someone who will cover accidental damage. 

This is where Worth Ave. Group comes in.  Worth Ave Group is the best iPhone insurance you can find.  It covers accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, flood, fire, natural disaster, vandalism, and power surge due to lightning.  So, when you order your new iPhone, get some iPhone insurance from Worth Ave. Group to go with it.

Unlike every other phone offered by AT&T, the iPhone has never been covered by AT&T’s Wireless Phone Insurance.  AT&T recently decided to extend their insurance to iPhones, too.  As great as this sounds, you better think twice before considering their insurance.

AT&T’s iPhone insurance plan is a whopping $13.99 a month with a $199 deductible (for the iPhone 3GS, 32 GB).  Worth Ave. Group offers iPhone insurance for only $79 a year, which is less than $7 a month.  Insurance for your iPhone with Worth Ave. Group has a $50 deductible, one-fourth of the price of the AT&T deductible.

With AT&T, you have to get the iPhone insurance when you’re signing up for a plan with AT&T.  You only have a 30 day window to sign up for the insurance.  So, if you have an iPhone that’s wasn’t just purchased, then you cannot get the insurance AT&T offers.  Worth Ave. Group is different because your iPhone doesn’t have to be new for it to be covered.

So, if you’re needing insurance for your iPhone, Worth Ave. Group is by far the best option available.

Well it’s happened again.  My husband and I overslept this morning and in the rush to get out the door I left my iPhone at home.  It happens at least once a month and yet it still amazes me how much it bothers me.  My pulse quickens, my palms get sweaty, and I feel like my cubicle is closing in around me.

I wonder if someone has tried to call or text me, upset that I won’t be able to read my (Kindle for iPhone) book at lunch or even be able to listen to music while I work.  Even though I can always call my phone for voicemail… what about text messages?  I mean, what if someone has texted me and they are now waiting for a response?!  Ahhhhhhhh!

So instead of working today I’ve been trying to find ways to remedy my problem.  I found a really great app for Windows® Mobile phones.  It will allow you to:

• See all of your missed calls and text messages
• Respond to your missed calls and texts.
• Set up an away message that is sent to anyone who has called your phone.

I was really surprised that I wasn’t able to find anything like this for my iPhone.  If they did, I would be more than happy to pay $4.99 for the next time.  Now, I just wish I had my phone…to download the app!

A friend of mine told me about a service plan they just took out when they purchased their iPhone from Best Buy.  They were so excited that I went online to check it out for myself.

At first glance it looked alright to me, but after reading through their terms and conditions I came across a few problems I would have with their claims process.

1) If you have a damaged iPhone, they will try to fix it up to 4 times before they will consider replacing it.  What in the world would I do without my phone while I’m shipping it off up to 4 times and waiting for them to figure out if it can fix or not?

2) When they do decide to replace your iPhone, they can do so by mailing you an iPhone of the same like, kind and quality (and from what I read it will probably be refurbished) or by sending you a gift card to Best Buy.  It bothered me that they wouldn’t just send me a check to buy a new one.  What if I didn’t want to buy another phone from Best Buy?

4) I also read they they would never pay out more than what you originally paid for your phone.  So if they don’t make my phone anymore I’ll have to come up with the difference to buy the newer model?

5) Once they’ve replaced your iPhone the service plan is over, no matter how many months you had left on your contract.

Reading thru their Terms and Conditions made me wonder about my own policy with Worth Ave. Group.  I called and spoke with one of their claims representatives and explained what I had read on Best Buy’s page.  I was reassured that would not be the case with them as I have a policy with Worth Ave Group and not a service plan.  So even if I had three claims in one year the policy would stay in effect.  She also said they my policy is a replacement cost policy.  So I would be paid what it would cost to buy a new iPhone not what I had originally paid or less.  Then she said I would only have to mail in my iPhone if it was being replaced (which is almost always the case with iPhones).  We went over of their coverages so I made a small table showing what Worth Ave Group covered that the service plan doesn’t.

iPhone  insurance is a special type of insurance that is meant to protect your iphone should it get damaged or stolen.  The majority of insurance companies have very strict policies about what is and is not covered under their insurance plan.   There used to be some homeowner’s policies that would cover an iphone like State Farm but it became cost prohibitive for them to do so and they no longer provide this type of coverage.

If you are an iphone user, you must first understand that when you purchase an iphone….all that comes with it is a warranty against product failures due to normal wear and tear.  80% of iphone product failures are from accidental damage (drops and spills.)

My research has uncovered three companies that provide broader coverage for my iphone.  They are Worth Avenue Group, Safeware and Square Trade.  Please research these policies.  They each are all a little different.  I have found the company that provides the broadest coverage is Worth Avenue Group.  Here are a few of the specifics that induced me to buy the policy:

$50 deductible/incident

Covers theft, fire, flood, natural disasters, vandalism, lightning strikes and accidental damage

Worldwide coverage

No time limit to apply for this policy after my iphone purchase date

Does not limit the number of claims per year

Many consumers buy extended warranties on high dollar products, like an iPhone, thinking they are protected for any losses they might experience. There are several companies that offer some type of coverage for the iPhone. So, the questions most consumers should ask themselves, what are you looking to cover?

The Apple Store offers the AppleCare Protection Plan. This plan covers defects of the phone and will repair these defects with new or refurbished parts. It also provides technical support coverage for the iPhone and iTunes. However, all iPhones have this coverage included for the first year. And, most manufactured defects would surface during the first year of owning the phone. There is no coverage for Accidental Damage or Theft. This might not be what most consumers are looking for.

You can purchase an iPhone warranty through a company called Square Trade. This company offers an extended warranty. This policy covers the same as the Apple Care but also includes coverage for Drops and Spills. The downside to this policy is the 30 day waiting period after you purchase the policy. If you were to drop your iPhone 10 days after purchasing the policy, you will have no coverage and will have to pay out of pocket for a new phone. The other downside to this policy is that this only provides coverage for one phone. If you file a claim on your damaged or defective phone, you must then purchase another plan to cover the new or replaced phone. This adds additional costs that most consumers would not like.

Another company that offers coverage for iPhones is Worth Ave. Group. This is by far the best option with the best benefits. It not only covers Accidental Damage such as drops and spills but also provides coverage for theft, fire, flood, all natural disasters, lightning strikes and vandalism. It also provides coverage for one full calendar year regardless how many claims you may file. With a low deductible of only $50 and premiums as low as $55 a year! When consumers buy extended warranties this is the type of coverage they are wanting. With a little common sense and some research you can find what type of policy best suits your needs too.

Wowza!  Beware!  After you spend $199 initially on that sweet little apple iPhone, you better protect it with your life unless you own iPhone insurance.  The iPhone one time purchase price was offered as an incentive or inducement to you to sign a contract with AT&T.  If your iPhone is damaged or stolen during that contract period, you better get ready to belly up and buy a replacement at full retail for $400 to $600, depending on the model you own.

Applecare is Apple’s extended warranty and support program which covers products outside their limited manufacturer’s warranty. In the case of the iPhone, AppleCare will provide an additional year of coverage for defects and repair, including the battery.  Applecare does not provide coverage for losses due to theft, fire, flood, natural disasters, and vandalism or accidental damage (drops and spills.)  In other words, Applecare does not cover iPhone user negligence….only product failures.  So, in essence….it is a warranty.  80% of iPhone product failures are due to user negligence (drops and spills.)

Several companies have risen to the occasion to fill the gap created by the lack of iPhone insurance.  Worth Avenue Group and its affiliates have been in business for 40+ years and offers the broadest coverage at a very value engineered price. The Worth Avenue Group iPhone policy provides worldwide coverage with a very low deductible of $50 per incident. Their claims are paid by in-house adjusters so that the claims process is very expeditious.  The policy covers losses due to theft, fire, flood, natural disasters, vandalism and accidental damage.  The policy premium ranges between $55 and $79 per year depending on the model of iPhone that you own.  The Worth Avenue Group policy is underwritten by Hanover Insurance Group, which has a superior A rating by AM Best Rating system.

Some posts I found about iPhone Insurance: