Big scare with iPhone this evening.   I dropped the phone as I was getting out of the car with my hands full tonight.   I've dropped the phone before - not a big deal.    The thing has its share of scratches at this point.

I have it in a case, but it's a slip-on leather case and the point of impact as it hit the ground was right on the sleep button at the top of the phone.    Not only did it dent up the phone itself but did so to the metal casing, which then jammed the button down into the phone.

As a result, iPhone started to turn on and off because of the depressed sleep button.

In full panic I ran inside, backed up the phone to my Mac and began some really delicate surgery.   All I had was a pair of tweezers, a hair clip, a paper clip and sheer determination.   The lighting was rather questionable.

After Googling for how to take apart the iPhone I weighed my options (take it to the Apple store so they could sell me a new one, suck it up and get to AT&T tomorrow for an upgrade, try to disassemble and fix myself).

I decided to dive in.

Upon examining the phone, I decided the black plastic antenna case at the bottom was the place to start.   After removing the SIM card (I had no idea whether that was tethering front to back - and it's removable and delicate, so best to take it out first) I started around the edge of the casing.   After 10 minutes or so it popped off.   I continued the same procedure around the chrome rim of the phone, slowly prying the front from the back.  

20 minutes later there was a small pop (the phone was still turning on and off the entire time) and the two halves separated.   Joined only by a thin wire bundle, I was able to push the button back up so it was in its proper place.    After testing it by depressing several times, I put the casing back together and popped on the black antenna piece. 

The phone is dented near that button, so I wouldn't be surprised if it got stuck again at some point.   I'm on borrowed time with the phone as it is having been an early adopter (purchased in July of 2007).   

So I'll have to start researching my next move.   I like AT&T although most of my friends and family are on Verizon.   

Verizon now has the Blackberry Bold and Storm (their version of the iPhone) so I will have to read up on my choices.    After having an iPhone all this time, I do love it - but not so much that I will fly blind into the new 3G model. 

Given the holiday and my transit in the next day or two this is NOT the time for my phone to go!