Possible hardware issue?

Question

Before I get started let me say that I have the iPhone 3G 16GB, the latest firmware version 3.0.1.
Well lately it seem's like my iPhone works when it wants. For instance, the slider is unresponsive at times, apps on the home screen are also at times unresponsive to my touch. Causeing me to miss calls sometimes. Sometimes things are unresponsive and other times the iPhone works as it should.
Secondly when I go to browse the internet on the phone it is super slow. AT&T doesn't have 3G in this area so I'm used to the slow EDGE network, but lately my connection is so slow that I've been getting error messages saying: "Cannot Open Page Safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding.'' I hit the refresh icon, and I constantly get the same results.
Sometimes Safari will load the page(s) faster than normal, however once the page is finished loading it's just a blank screen. When I hit the refresh icon it will then lag when it comes to opening the page, to the point I eventually get the server has stopped responding message.
I've did the whole holding down the sleep wake button thing, even keeoing the phone off for a good 15 minutes, still get the same thing, yet I've got full AT&T coverage, and the little E icon is still showing.
I've even tried restoreing the iPhone as a new iPhone and still have the same issues. I had gotten so frustrated that I gave Apple a call, since the phone is still under warrenty and the woman I spoke with said it sounded like it may be a hardware issue with the phone scheduled me for an appointment at the nearest Apple store tomorrow afternoon.
Has anyone else experienced similar issues? If so did you go to an Apple store and, if you did what did they say was wrong with your phone?

Answer 1

Hi Jason, Yes I have a case-mate case for the iPhone which by the way I do not reccomend, because it has scrached the back of my iPhone badly. Yes I've tried removing the case and like I said earlier sometimes the phone works fine as far as responses go, other times the whole thing just freezes on me.
We do not have 3G where I live so I'm doomed to useing the EDGE network, and I have no home internet at the moment (Im useing a public wi-fi account) however for some reason since updateing to 3.0 and 3.0.1, the phone is unable to pick up most Wi-Fi signals around here. I've even taken a walk about 5 miles up the road from where I live and still am un able to get safari to load.
As far as stocks and such go, the news section is so slow to load at times that the phone automaticly dim's the screen in an attempt to conserve battery power and eventually shuts off.