While most of the stuff I’ve heard about the iPhone (News - Alert) has been positive, I’ll never forget the “$300 down the toilet” incident described by a friend of a friend, where her precious touchscreen wonder was snatched by two thieves – just moments after she purchased it at the Apple (News - Alert) store in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood.

Apple staffers expressed their sympathies, she told me. But that didn’t change the reality that she had to shell out hundreds for a new unit. (As I heard this bit, I thanked my lucky stars that my BlackBerry is insured through a small Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless monthly fee).

iPhone owners still stressed about their gadget getting snatched – or dropped -- will no doubt revel in the latest good news from AT&T (News - Alert), which hit BoyGeniusReport this morning.   

The wireless operator and exclusive carrier for the Apple iPhone in the United States is reportedly planning to launch a new insurance service, called MobileProtect, designed specifically for the Apple iPhone. The insurance plan, which will be run by Asurion (News - Alert), will cost $13.99 per month and will be available for purchased through Apple’s App Store.

The charges will be billed to the credit card on file with Apple. The deductibles range from $99 for an 8GB 3G to $199 for a 32GB 3GS.

Hey – it’s better than shelling out $699 for a new 32 GB 3GS without a contract, right?