So yeh, I managed to score a iPhone 3G from Optus today and after playing round with it I have discovered that when i switch across the ringer switch (above the volume), nothing happens. No icon appears in the menu bar and even ringing the phone when it is meant to be in silent mode results in a ring.

Is anybody else having this problem???

I am talking to Apple support guy ATM, but he doesnt seem to know what is up. Argh!

My switch snapped off today... It was shoddy from the start, so it didn't surprise me it only lasted a week. I'll have to take it in tomorrow. Anyone had experiences with getting 3Gs fixed? Will I be without a phone for a while?

by default settings they have vibrate on for silent mode so to turn off go Settings > Sounds under Silent Vibrate Push off does this hellp?

Well my silent switch appears busted. While the physical switch is fine, turning it to silent won't make the phone silent without pushing it very slightly further into the silent state, however when it is released it goes back to turning silent mode off. Even a slight squeeze of the phone does the same thing, meaning it is constantly vibrating as every bump puts it in and out of silent mode, even though it should just be staying silent.

Is it possible to get a replacement for this? I simply can't turn the phone on silent and given most of my week is spent in a lecture theatre this isn't ideal.

Hmm sorry to revive this thread...
anyway, regarding my original problem, A few days after launch, Apple said theyd send me packaging for me to send the iphone for repair. Anyway, the next day the phone fixed itself and was able to be turned to silent mode, i also never received the packaging. This leads me to think that they did something over-the-air to fix it (they had imei number) is this possible? because imo it would be a strange coincidence.

So now two months later the original problem is happening again. There is nothing physically wrong with the silent switch, just when it is switched on and I receive a call/msg sound still plays. Anyone else experiencing/experienced this issue??? Oh and I am quite competent with technology so it isn't a case of me having the wrong settings enabled.