The furor over Apple's iPhone 4 antenna design and its impacts on reception when held in the so-called "Death Grip" continue and here are the latest developments. First of all, don't expect AppleCare representatives to replace your iPhone 4 if you're experiencing the issue. Not only this, but Apple employees have been explicitly told not to offer owners free iPhone 4 Bumper cases.

A leaked document posted on BGR instructs Genius Bar employees to troubleshoot the problem, however if the antenna works fine when the iPhone 4 is resting flat on a table, then Apple considers the device to be properly operating. A software fix is not mentioned, and several solutions are to be suggested to the customer.

We've received emails from several iPhone customers, panicked over the possible loss of their yet-to-ship pre-ordered iPhone 4. These users have all received an email from Apple indicating that their pre-ordered iPhone 4, which was otherwise ready to ship, is being held by Apple based on instructions from AT&T. The letter instructs that Apple will attempt to reprocess the order daily for 7 days, at which time the order will be cancelled if the customer has not resolved the issue with AT&T.

The letter to customers reads:

We've heard all the rumors before, but a critical mass of information is making it evident that the iPhone 4 is destined for Verizon Wireless this coming January. Bloomberg reports from unnamed sources that customers will be able to buy a Verizon-compatible iPhone 4 in six short months.

This follows information from DigiTimes that an order for 10 million CDMA iPhone 4 devices will be fulfilled later this year. CDMA technology is compatible with Verizon's network. News stories about Apple negotiating with Verizon have been floating around for months, if not years.

With the launch of the iPhone 4 tomorrow, prospective buyers and those who have successfully pre-ordered their devices may be looking for protection. Several options exist, and they each come with their own price tag and caveats. AT&T Wireless made news earlier this month when they announced that MobileProtect insurance from Asurion would finally be available for the iPhone.

Unfortunately, the pricing and features of the AT&T iPhone insurance plan just don't compare to alternatives. First of all, MobileProtect costs $11.99 per month and your iPhone must be enrolled within the first 30 days after activation. This puts the insurance total for a two-year contract at a whopping $288. Furthermore, those needing an iPhone 4 replacement will pay a $199 deductible, the same price as a subsidized 16 GB iPhone 4 with a two-year contract.