O2, oh no

The o2 handling of iPhone continues this week with the botched launch of the th iPhone 3G. I, like tens of thousands of other iPhone users received a text early on Monaday about the imminent availability of the the 3G model. So I'm excited, it's a bargain, it's a faster and some of those annoying imperfections will now be ironed out. Excellent news. Then I read on

'You cannot upgrade from your iPhone, so you'll need to go onto your Mac or PC and log on to....'

This is supremely irritating for 3 key reasons.

1. I am forced to go to the O2 website where the user experience is so awful I try to avoid it.

2. I am reminded that O2 have done absolutely nothing to enable iPhone users.

3. Apple could/should have put in place safeguards against this disregard for user experience before awarding the contract to O2.

Why can't it be another way? Here's a free user experience solution for O2.

1. Create a version of youir webiste that WORKS ON THE DEVICE. It's easy, quick and will stop people like me complaining about you.

2. Allow iPhone users to conduct all transactions with you, including upgrades ON THE DEVICE!

3. Don't force customners to use your website until you have built one that actually MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

4. Here's the toppest tip of all. Ask people OUTSIDE YOUR BUSINESS to help develop your products, services and communications.

Apologies for the uncharacteristic use of CAPITALS.