Apple’s realized something I’ve suspected all along – the iPhone 4 antenna issue isn’t as widespread as everyone thought. I know I’m a bit of an Apple fanboy, so no one listened to me, but I hadn’t met a single person with the problem, and as loud as the complaints were, it would have been a complete shitstorm if it was actually the huge epidemic people wanted you to believe it was. That’s not to say it didn’t happen, or that it wasn’t a big problem – it is, especially for such an expensive device that is the cornerstone of communication in most of our lives today – it just wasn’t every single phone.

Unfortunately, this means Apple is ending the free iPhone 4 program. After September 30th, you’ll only be able to get a free case if you do a bit of complaining.

We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper case.

There you have it, folks. This seems like the solution Apple should have offered the second there was talk of an issue. There was no reason to give them to everyone, other than to fix the screw up that was waiting 3 months to do anything about the people having problems.

Apple has officially started to reimburse iPhone 4 owners who purchased a bumper case on their own, and it looks like the rest of us can send away for a free bumper now, too.

Apple is managing the promotion through an app, available now in the App Store. Instructions are pretty simple. You download the app, sign in using your Apple ID, and select your bumper or case. As it stands you can only get one color (black) and you’re looking at a three to five week delivery window. As for time limitations, here’s the official word:

For iPhone 4 purchases made before July 23, 2010, you must apply no later than August 22, 2010; otherwise, you must apply within 30 days of your iPhone 4 purchase. To qualify for this program, you must purchase your iPhone 4 by September 30, 2010.

Remember, you don’t have to get a bumper. You can get any of the approved cases for free as well.