Smartphone design still causing 'antennagate' signal issues

Problems with mobile signal quality brought on by the way people hold smartphones will continue unless manufacturers make some basic design changes, according to researchers at the University of Bristol.

A report by the university's Centre for Communications Research found that signal levels change dramatically owing to the position and motion of a user's hand when holding the device.

Additional tests found that creating a gap between the antenna and the hand does not restore the matching and operational sensitivity of the phone, suggesting that the use of phone covers may not solve or improve the issue.

Mark Beach, professor of radio systems engineering at Bristol's Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said that the department is looking at ways in which manufacturers could overcome this issue.

"Antenna position and user grip on smartphones may lead to obstruction of radio signal paths and antenna detuning," he said.

"Research looking at the automated retuning of the antenna elements to maintain high efficiency when holding smartphones, or similar devices, to enhance connection reliability with wireless networks is ongoing."

The issue of signal degradation hit the headlines last year when Apple's iPhone 4 was found to suffer from loss of call quality if held in a certain way.

Apple dismissed the criticisms at first, claiming that the problem affects all smartphones, a suggestion that other manufacturers were quick to deny.

Apple did concede the point in the end, however, and issued free covers for all iPhone 4 owners, although the company subsequently withdrew this offer for all customers.

The University of Bristol research has been published in IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.