Best Buy to offer free invisibleSHIELD 4fix to aggravated iPhone 4 owners
By Darren Murph 
posted July 28th 2010 10:53AM
posted July 28th 2010 10:53AM
Update: We've heard from another tipster that the deal is indeed legitimate, and it's for any human with an iPhone 4, not just those who purchased their phone from Best Buy. We'd recommend calling your local store to double check, but things are looking up.
Update 2: Ah, so we've finally received the full skinny from another tipster. The offer only applies to those who purchased their iPhone 4 from Best Buy / Best Buy Mobile or for Best Buy Reward Zone members. Granted, it's pretty easy to sign up for the aforementioned reward program, but those are the stipulations. The official BB name for the product you'll be getting is the Zagg SideShield, which would cost you $9.99 otherwise.
[Thanks, Anonymous]
Best Buy® Mobile Launches Side Shield for Apple® iPhone™4
Solution, Which is Free to Best Buy Customers, Begins July 28 Exclusively in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile Stores
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but now customers who shop at Best Buy are eligible for a free Side Shield for the iPhone 4. The offer launches exclusively on July 28, and comes in the form of a clear, unobtrusive shield applied to the outer edges of the iPhone 4. The Side Shield from invisibleSHIELD was designed to address issues with antenna attenuation and has been tested and manufactured by ZAGG™.
"At the same time, we know that customers are always looking for ways to personalize and protect their smart phones. That's why we are so focused on having multiple options-people want to choose what's right for them."
This program will be available free of charge, including installation, to anyone who purchased or will purchase an iPhone 4 from Best Buy and will be extended to all existing Reward Zone customers. The solution will also be available to the general public for the retail price $9.99, including installation.
In addition, all consumers can take advantage of 20% off of any iPhone 4 case through August 7. Best Buy Mobile offers an unparalleled assortment of cases for the iPhone 4, along with a full range of key accessories that serve to protect and personalize the popular smart phone.
"Consumers are looking for immediate solutions and the Side Shield is a great option," said Scott Moore, vice president of marketing for Best Buy Mobile. "At the same time, we know that customers are always looking for ways to personalize and protect their smart phones. That's why we are so focused on having multiple options-people want to choose what's right for them."
Best Buy Mobile has become a leading destination for smart phones and accessories, in part because of the promises the store offers its customers: better choice of phones and networks; impartial, informed advice; straightforward pricing; and someone to be there for the life of the phone.
How do you get the free shield? I called my local best buy store and they said they weren't doing it. Same thing when I called their 800 number.
no thanks, just got my free bumper in the mail today
I went and had one of these installed by best buy today. The plastic strip they placed on the antenna does absolutely nothing to improve any of the iPhones reception issues . In fact, I'd hazard to say it makes them slightly worse. Too bad, I had high hopes.
I don't know anything about the side-shield skin from Invisible Shield by Zagg. But, I recommend you avoid buying the normal Invisible Shield skin for your front or back of the iPhone 4. It is rubbery to the touch (which I really dislike on my touch-phone's screen), and in my experience, peels on the edges far too easily. I'm not a noob when it comes to applying screen protectors -- our family has 5 iPhone/iPod Touch devices, and the iPhone 4 is the latest addition.
Engadget - No "BREAKING NEWS" topic ???
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/07/28/motorola-fires-shots-at-apple-in-new-droid-x-ad-no-jacket-required/
That's a good move to make people buy iPhone from them. How much will a piece of sticky tape will set you back? 25 cents TOPS?
I was able to get the 4Fix tapes for free at Best Buy in Richmond, VA today. They never asked if I bought the phone there.
The problem is that the stick-on tapes look really cheesy.
I went back to my narrow strips of electrical tape on each of the long sides. That prevents my hand from bridging the separate antennae and, consequently, shorting them out, thus degrading the signal.
The best bet would be to coat the stainless steel bands with a non-conductive coating. But, I'm sure that Apple will "invent" that and then market their new, improved iPhone 4.1.
I actually went to Best Buy and they gave me the side shield for free (no spritzer, though).
They wanted $8 to install it, however, so I just took it to do myself.
This is just sad. Their design mistake was so glaring and obvious third party companies are rushing in to fix it and cash in.
WoW, The Job's New Clothes
I work for best buy mobile and its free the only hitch is that u have to bring the iphone 4 with you (of course) and we (the bb mobile employees) have to apply the invisishield for u!
i just found this out today surprisingly and learned how to master it :]
oh and u dont need the spray to do it.
just wash your hands!
Just got back from my local Best Buy and they installed the Invisible Shield sides with no questions asked. I showed them my iPhone 4, asked about the program and got the free side covers.
I didn't have to show them my Reward Zone card or anything.
you have a choice when you come in, you can get the zagg fix or 20 percent off of a case.
-bbym nerd
Destin FL Best Buy is a no go for the free case
I bought the version that has a front and back from Best Buy. The front would not stay on with a case and kept peeling off.
I went in yesterday to the Newnan, GA 30263 store. The guy in the mobile phones section didn't know anything about it, then pretended that he knew and said the kits would be coming later in the week.
Engadget search is really broken and wouldn't show anything relevant, so I couldn't dig up this article. That wasted about 30 mins in my car searching for the article with the press release. After verifying what I wasn't 100% sure of, I called the Best Buy 1-800 number. The first person was obviously from India and didn't have any clue what I was asking about. She tried to transfer me to the Rewards Zone dept and the f%#^ing system hung up on me. I called back and chose the RZ options and waited AGES even though the estimated wait was "less than 10 minutes." I reached a woman who also knew nothing of it and couldn't help me, so she transferred me to the BB Mobile dept. Then I spoke with a youn man who didn't know anything about it, but was able to look it up on the Internet. After confirming for me what I already knew, he didn't have any suggestion on how to resolve the problem with my local store. I said I would go to the CS counter instead he agreed that would be best and said the Geek Squad would be the ones to install it anyway (no, it's normally the guy in the mobile phones dept). CS called someone in the mobile phones dept and he said they had them. I waited about an hour for him to finish with some customer that seemed like he was already sold a new Sprint phone, so I really have no clue what took so f#%^ing long. When he finally got to mine, kit took another 10 minutes for him to install. It came out horrible. Nothing was lined up everything was coming off. I stopped at the front of the store and tried to straighten out the pieces before they would set permanently. I noticed that the pieces between the buttons weren't staying at all. I think they were put on upside-down or something. I straightened them out several times and was fully aware that they weren't sticking at all. When I got to the car and sat down, the piece between the top button and the ringer switch was already missing. I'm peeling his garbage off and going back to the Bumper case (and deal with it's problems). Hours were wasted. WHAT A COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME!
I just went into Best buy today to get the shield and the guy at the phones section was like its $10. He said it costs $10, but we install it for free.
I thought it was a great idea on Best Buy's part to offer these free shields - getting iPhone 4 customers into the store (including those who bought their phones elsewhere).... until I had BB install these free shields on my phone. As soon as they were installed, I made a call and tried using the speakerphone, and the person on the other end couldn't hear me! Turns out the BB "professional" covered up my phone's speakerphone/video mic with the shield!