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07 Jul 2010
Reception issues plaguing the iPhone 4 show no signs of ending after Apple's technical support line confirmed today that an upcoming software update will not solve the problem.
An AppleCare adviser told V3.co.uk that the source of the iPhone 4's signal is the lower left corner of the handset, and that reception is affected when this area is covered by the hand.
"We are investigating the problem, and you could buy a bumper to cover the phone," said the adviser.
V3.co.uk was told that it may be possible to get a free bumper, and the adviser offered to put us through to a supervisor.
It was also recommended that the iPhone should be connected to iTunes to update the carrier settings and download the firmware upgrade when it is released.
Charles Golvin, a principal analyst at Forrester, suggested that the problem should have been spotted during development and testing.
"[The reception] issue appears to be a software error on all models and a hardware fault on the iPhone 4," he said.
"However, Apple is good at managing media uproar and the reception issue is likely to have only a small impact on sales. People considering getting the iPhone 4 may opt for another make instead."
Golvin pointed to the outcry when the price of the original iPhone was subsidised by AT&T shortly after its release. Apple customers who complained that they paid the full price were placated with the offer of vouchers.
The analyst said that Apple could offer vouchers again, but ruled out the issuing of a recall.
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Do you agree?
What reception issues?
No one I know has this problem. My iPhone 4 certainly doesn't suffer from it. I wonder to what extent this is a mixture of media backlash against the success of iPhone and mass hysteria.
Posted by: Marcus DYson 09 Jul 2010
Apple. What has happened to you?
Apple, Apple, Apple. What has happened to you? Just two weeks ago you were riding high on the iPad and the iPhone 4's pending launch. Then you let AT&T kill the unlimited data plan and gave us a phone that has lots of problems. You gave us a lame response from a petulant CEO and now you cannot even get the mea culpa right in iteration #3 or 4.
Posted by: chilly morse 08 Jul 2010
Apple UK reject this statement
Have spoken to Apple Care and they have stated no free Bumpers and the update will cure the problem,spoke to a senior supervisor and he has no knowledge of what is stated in the article!
Posted by: Barrie Jones 08 Jul 2010
iPhone 4 failed consumer expectations
Many consumers are so upset with the iPhone 4 reception problem that there have been 4 states that have already filed a lawsuit against Apple including California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Texas. Apple stocks have plunged way below their initial figure during the iPhone 4 launch. Many of the 1.7 million iPhone 4's sold are likely to be returned to Apple for refunds and exchanges. iPhone 4 failed consumer expectations.
Posted by: James Jobs 07 Jul 2010