Lack of Cases Are to Blame For iPhone 4 Reception Issues, Says Apple

REUTERS/Kimberly White

An amicable Steve Jobs took the stage at Apple’s Town Hall at the Cupertino HQ today to address “antennagate”. While the CEO admitted that there were issues with the iPhone 4’s design lending to reception issues, it isn’t unique to the latest iPhone.

Smartphones, in general, have weak spots and the algorithm used to meld hardware and software differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. During his keynote, Jobs demonstrated how a BlackBerry, Samsung Omnia and HTC Eris device all drop signal strength when held a certain way. Because of the iPhone 4’s exposed antenna design, the flaw is more apparent. But the problem, according to Apple, isn’t as bad as the media makes it out to be.

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While AT&T does not divulge dropped call rates, Apple says the iPhone 4 drops calls less than 1 percent more frequently than the iPhone 3GS. Part of the problem, Jobs says, is that cases were not readily available at launch for the iPhone 4 so the reception issue was much more apparent than when the iPhone 3GS launched because it shared the same design as the previous generation iPhone 3G.

Compared to the last generation iPhone, the return rate on the iPhone 4 is a third of what it was for the iPhone 3GS at 1.7 percent compared to the 6 percent rate of the iPhone 3GS. And a mere 0.55 percent of iPhone 4 owners called AppleCare to complain about reception issues.

So what is Apple going to do to appease customers?

(More on Techland: Two Minute Video: Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 4?)

A free Apple bumper case or third party vendor case will be issued to any iPhone 4 user. You can sign up for the offer starting next week on the Apple web site. A refund will also be given to anyone who purchased a case from Apple at launch. But you must do so by September 30. If that isn’t enough, AT&T and Apple will refund your money no questions asked.

During the Q&A after the presentation, Jobs was asked about the Bloomberg article that said he knew about the possible antenna issue last year during the design process. Jobs vehemently said the story was “total bullshit.”

To recap, there was no recall and no mention of a Verizon iPhone. And with that, it appears as though antennagate is now over.

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jesssayin

What a crock of crap! This is truly Apple’s ‘Vista’ and it’s far from over.
I can’t believe he would shovel a truck load of manure to the world and expect them to swallow it.

Android Phones, hold ‘em anyway you like…
tanboontee

Jobs may have to eat his words eventually.

In its haste to amass greater profits via newer upgrade, Apple makes a real big blunder this time. It might not have properly tested the prototype appropriately, instead rushing to push the new model to global market quickly yet blindly.

It is going to pay a hefty price for the greedy mistake.
http://themusingsofadreamer.wordpress.com A Wannabe Writer

“Apple says the iPhone 4 drops calls less than 1 percent more frequently than the iPhone 3GS.”

I wonder what the this 1 percent really signifies? Does it mean that for every 100 dropped calls for the 3GS, the iPhone 4 drops less than 100 calls?

Or….

Does it mean that for every 100 calls you make, the iPhone 4 drops less than 1 call more than the 3GS?

In the latter case, the increase in dropped calls is much higher. Say for instance that the 3GS drops 1 call per 100. That means the iPhone 4 will drop 2 calls per 100, which signifies an increase of 100%!

I’m not saying that the iPhone 4 really has that many dropped calls, since I never even used one before. I just want to illustrate how tricky these percentages can be without explaining what they really mean.
http://themusingsofadreamer.wordpress.com A Wannabe Writer

Sorry, it should be:

Does it mean that for every 100 dropped calls for the 3GS, the iPhone 4 drops less than 101 calls?
http://bao68.wordpress.com bao68

Make that simple, You don’t like don’t buy.
bobgregor

Don‘t you think that all these iphone 4 problems might just be overrated ? In my own opinion, I think that it was a ”black marketing” from apple competitors.
bucketdvr

A lack of cases the cause for reception issues?[/misdirection]
I thought it was the fact that if I hold my phone like a normal human-being my service will drop.
Those case manufacturers need to get on it! They’re ruining Apples reputation. :(