Apple: No free 30-pin adapter for iPhone 5 buyers

Apple's Lightning to 30-pin adapter.

/ Apple

iPhone 5 buyers won't be getting a Lightning to 30-pin adapter on the house after all.

Reports that the new phone would come with the adapter surfaced today after some of Apple's online stores listed it as packaged with the iPhone 5.

The information on Apple's U.K. iPhone 5 order page specifically said that "your phone includes a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter for connecting 30-pin accessories to devices featuring the Lightning connector."

But it seems Apple committed a bit of a gaffe here. Customers who called or chatted with Apple reps about the adapter eventually learned that the information was wrong.

The company has since removed all references to the free adapter from the pages in question. An Apple sales rep confirmed to me by phone that the adapter is not included with the iPhone 5.

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There's been no word from Apple yet on why the misleading information was published. An Apple rep reportedly told one TNW reader that the matter is "being investigated at the moment."

CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.

iPhone 5 buyers who need the Lightning to 30-pin adapter for existing devices will still have to pony up $39 for a 7-inch adapter cable or $29 for a small stub adapter. Both items are listed by Apple as available in two to three weeks, meaning around early October.

Since the new adapter doesn't support video out, Apple is also

Apple to sell Lightning adapters for HDMI and VGA, says report

that should be available sometime in coming months.

This article originally appeared on CNET.

[Nicholas_R]

More smoke, mirrors, and lies that came from the dog and pony show that was the iPhony 5 release. Did you hear it being hailed as the worlds thinest smart phone too? That was also a lie. The iPhone 5 is not the world's thinnest smartphone http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/47496/iphone-5-not-worlds-thinnest

[robbyr1955]

Who on earth would have thought otherwise? The whole point was to increase their profits. Even the Standard Oil Trust couldn't make as much money as a percentage of its revenues as Apple.

[bobnjersey]

[will still have to pony up $39 for a 7-inch adapter cable or $29 for a small stub adapter]
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$10 extra for an added 7 inches ... anyone would be happy to pay that.

[Scimajor]

I could have sworn there was or was going to be some sort of legislation requiring cellphone manufacturers to use USB connectors rather than proprietary connectors. What happened to the legislation?

[BWB2020]

such a regulation would be contrary to the wishes of the businesses that want to squeeze every last dime from the consumer, then expect them to trash perfectly good working gear for the newest version.

So the businesses will fight regulations, and as we all know, de-regulation is one of the GOP selling points.

I for one will never buy Apple, until they,

1. adopt a more consumer friendly business model, and

2. give consumers products that aren't designed to be obsolete before the schedule of payments is over.

No matter how much Apple litigates, Samsung rules for now!

[nor-one]

THE ABC's OF BUSINESS!!
A = The customer
B = The customers money
C = The main purpose in life of a business man is to get as much of "B" out of "A" as is possible without getting caught and going to jail!
Don't forget to vote for mitty and lyen, they know their ABC's!

[lesserof2evil]

For now I buy Apple stocks, not Apple products.

[bobnjersey]

[For now I buy Apple stocks, not Apple products.]
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it's the purchase of the products that provide the return on the stocks.