AT&T’s website, unable to handle the demand Tuesday for Apple’s new iPhone, had difficulty processing orders — and in certain instances appeared to reveal subscribers’ personal information to strangers, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Although the scope of the problem and its underlying cause could not immediately be learned, some AT&T customers who were logged into AT&T’s website as themselves ended up in other users’ accounts.
AT&T and Apple did not immediately comment on the apparent glitch.
The security lapse was the second in a week for the No. 2 U.S. carrier, which acknowledged June 9 that a flaw in its website allowed a group of computer experts to uncover the email addresses of thousands of owners of Apple iPads — including prominent officials at companies, in the military and in the government.
The problems Tuesday with AT&T’s site took shape as the company’s chief executive Randall Stephenson was in New York talking to media and investors.
Asked about last week’s iPad incident, the CEO said privacy issues are important and that a failure to prevent more serious breaches of network security would stall the growth of the mobile data market.
“Customer privacy, data privacy, is critical,” he said in an interview. “We take this very seriously.”
Apple’s iPhone 4 officially goes on sale June 24, but AT&T and Apple began accepting pre-orders Tuesday. Almost immediately, would-be buyers began complaining they were unable to complete order requests through either company’s website.
AT&T said the day was the busiest for online sales in its history but did not say how many units were ordered. All iPhone 4s that could be pre-ordered for delivery June 24 sold out, the company said.
Customers who order now will get devices June 25 or later. There will also be iPhone 4s available in stores June 24, AT&T said.