O2 loses Mobile Computer's iPhone 3G review handset

Had your iPhone 3G courier-delivered to you this morning? We’re curious to hear the experiences of others, because our review model hasn’t arrived and, according to O2, probably won’t now until – well, O2 doesn't know when.

Indeed, despite forcing us to jump through all sorts of hoops this week, O2 was been unable to give us any explanation at as to why the iPhone 3G we’d ordered at 8.15am on Monday 7 July isn’t now going to be delivered today, as promised.

The O2 adviser we spoke to said that our order had "been processed" but, as the company had run out of stock, he didn’t think our order could be fulfilled. Frankly, he sounded a tad confused himself and recommended we give it another "day or two to see if our computer system is just being slow to update".

But if O2’s computer system is being slow to update then its credit-card-processing facility is plenty quick off the mark. More after the cut.

After hanging up our call with O2, we checked the recent transactions on our company credit card and found that the firm had already taken the money for the iPhone 3G that it says now it may not deliver. It took this money on Monday, two days before it had even decided if we could have one (not that we can, obviously). Nice work if you can get it.

As an amusing aside, another Mobile Computer team member took a wander to his local O2 shop this morning to join the iPhone 3G queue. Only there was no queue. Nor were there any staff. For, despite the shop window being plastered with posters imploring "Get your iPhone 3G here, July 11th", a second, smaller poster in stuck to the shop door declared: "This shop is closed for refurbishment from July 10th." Great timing, chaps.

[ O2]