iPhone Buyers Now Eligible for AppleCare+ up to 30 Days After Purchase

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For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.Indecisive Apple fans take note: Apple's just made a subtle modification to its AppleCare+ system such that you no longer have to make the life-or-death decision to purchase the warranty service immediately after buying an iPhone.

According to the new changes posted to Apple's official AppleCare+ website, customers will have up to 30 days from the point of their original iPhone purchase to decide whether they would like to purchase AppleCare+ as well. Only, there's one small catch: Buying AppleCare+ after the fact requires a trip down to an Apple Store and a Genius Bar appointment, where Apple techs will inspect the iPhone to ensure that it isn't already damaged prior to the warranty service kicking in.

Apple's also extended the amnesty period for those who have recently picked up an iPhone. Customers who purchased the smartphone within 30 days prior to any date between 11/14 and 12/15 will also be allowed to add an AppleCare+ plan, although it's unclear whether Apple's also mandating a Genius Bar trip for these purchasers.

AppleCare+, which debuted alongside the launch of the iPhone 4S, is a slightly pricier replacement for the company's previous AppleCare warranty service. However, the jump from a $69 to $99 voluntary warranty program comes with an additional benefit: Apple now covers up to two incidents of "accidental damage" for AppleCare+ subscribers, even though these instances cost an iPhone owner an additional $49 service fee each.

In addition, AppleCare+ extends the iPhone's traditional one year hardware warranty and 90 days of telephone technical support to two years each.

The launch of the iPhone 4S brought forth a bit of confusion regarding AppleCare+ eligibility, stemming from language in the original terms and conditions that suggested purchasers would be allowed to buy AppleCare+ at any point within the iPhone's traditional one-year warranty. Apple's since removed the conflicting language from the official Terms and Conditions for the service. Buy an iPhone, and you now get 30 days to extend your warranty. Simple as that.

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