Apple is believed to be looking at overhauling the AppleCare service, and the way it handles repairs, replacements and warranty claims. Some details have emerged on AppleInsider from the town-haul style meeting of employees and tech staff. There is word that Apple could be shifting to a one warranty system. This would mean one subscription for all Apple devices that a consumer owns.
It is still not clear whether the proposed one subscription service will replace the current AppleCare offering, or run in parallel with it. Under the new offering, Apple may offer 24×7 service to customers, across all devices.
Another important detail to emerge is the way Apple will possibly handle repairs of the iPhones, iPods and iPads. AppleInsider’s source says, “The biggest announcement, was the way repairs for iPhones will be handled soon. The way it is now, if almost anything is wrong with an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, the entire device is exchanged for a like-new re manufactured (sic) device, whether brought into an apple store or sent in for mail in repair. Now we are starting to actually repair the products and return the same device to the customer.”
Currently, Apple Store tech teams are capable of handling replacements for components like speakers, receivers, home buttons, the vibrator motor and the iPhone’s battery. Sometime this summer, components like cameras, sleep/wake buttons and logic boards may also be replaced by the technicians at the Apple Store.
It would be interesting to see how this planned methodology is deployed globally, particularly in countries where there are no official Apple Stores, like India.
Source: AppleInsider