I walked into an AT&T Wireless store earlier today, eyed the iPhone and picked up some brochures on pricing plans. I’ve been thinking that the problems with the new iPhone can’t last forever - and yet, here’s another black eye for Apple and the iPhone. An Alabama woman has filed suit against Apple, claiming the iPhone 3G’s network is slower than advertised. The 10-page complaint was filed Tuesday, alleging Apple’s “breach of express and implied warranty and unjust enrichment.” The complaint seeks class action status, claiming that Apple’s iPhone 3G advertising campaign is misleading.

Apple recently acknowledged reception problems but said a software update was designed to provide “improved communication with 3G networks” but it was unclear what problems were addressed with the update. The suit asks that Apple repair or replace “defective” devices and pay unspecified damages.

It’s unfortunate that Apple - and AT&T - are experiencing the bad publicity from the iPhone problems, not just the phone reception but also the Mobile Me synchronization problems. For a brief moment, I thought about joining the masses to pick up an iPhone 3G on Day One but decided to wait. The idea has been crossing my mind again, hence the trek to an AT&T Wireless store today. The clerks were all busy so I didn’t stay - but I did make one observation. The store was full and yet, there wasn’t one person playing with the store’s display iPhone.

Could it be that the widespread reception and synchronization problems are finally starting to have an impact on sales. For me, it was never really a matter of “if,” but more like “when” I would switch to the iPhone (and AT&T). I’ve long been an Apple fan - there are iPods, Macbooks and even an AppleTV in my home. But I have to admit that I’m disappointed with the company, not only over the handling of these problems but more for releasing products (and services) that clearly weren’t ready. It’s a shame, too, seeing how Apple was one of the leaders in the University of Michigan’s second quarter American Customer Satisfaction Index.

I’m wondering now if I even want an iPhone. I wonder how many other people feel the same way.

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