Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls

I'm not an Apple Tech specialist... BUT, it seems to me that this MIGHT be a software issue.

The Proximity Sensor WORKS, in that, when I bring the phone to my face, the light goes off. Just like my 3G. So it KNOWS what's going on.

The problem is that it doesn't use that information to 'turn off' the button-pushing ability.

Again, not a software/hardware engineer... but...

My 2 cents :P

I just spoke to a Sr. Level Advisor at Apple regarding the same issue everyone else is dealing with.

I actually told me that this IS a known problem, along with the antenna issue, and Apple is currently working on a fix for this.

I have already returned 1 phone and the 2nd one has not been any better. I truly hope this is resolved soon..otherwise I am going to wait another 14 days, and return it again. Maybe if I can hold out long enough the White version will finally be available, and I will get that one.

Yeah, they suggested I go to the store and "get a new one", but... like I said before, I don't think this is a hardware problem. Or, if it is, it's affecting EVERY phone. So a replacement doesn't seem like a smart idea.

Here is a article about the proximity Sensor and maybe a fix for some, full restore and don't restore from backup. Who know but it's worth a try.

http://www.tipb.com/2010/07/01/proximity-sensor-woes-ios-4-clean-install/

Full restore didn't work for us...

Apple--please do something quick. People are starting to lose patience.

rbelfatti wrote:
I just spoke to a Sr. Level Advisor at Apple regarding the same issue everyone else is dealing with.

I actually told me that this IS a known problem, along with the antenna issue, and Apple is currently working on a fix for this.

You should've recorded that phone call. 🙂

Same problem for me. I went to Apple store the Apple genious laid the phone on the counter & put his finger over the sensor, watched the screen go off & said that there is nothing wrong with the phone.

This trip to the apple store was a 45 min drive each way, plus the 2 hours I spent on the phone with the tech people. *Apple store is a waste of time.*

Acblue94 wrote:
People, where exactly is this sensor located on the phone?

Hi Acblue,

Below's a repost of something I put-up earlier in this thread which I hope answers your question. Hope it helps.

R.

The detector appears to be an IR transceiver. It can be visualised using a digital camera or camcorder screen, as their detectors extend into the IR range. On my 3G (and on 3GSs I surmise) it is slightly above and a few millimetres to the left of the ear-slot. On the iPhone 4 it is just above the ear-slot and very slightly to the left of centre. I'd post a picture of it if I knew how to 🙂

The sad thing is that Apple could've largely put this thread to bed after about five or six pages of posts if they had just come out and acknowledged the problem and stated that they were working on a fix.

Unfortunately, dealing with Apple support on the issue is like playing a game of roulette. There's a 95% chance you'll get someone who has never heard of the issue and a 3% chance you'll get someone who says that he's talked to one or two other people who have mentioned the problem but Apple knows nothing about it and a 2% chance you'll get someone who actually acknowledges the problem and says Apple is aware of it.

Apple has employees giving consumers the run around out of ignorance. That's the problem with not acknowledging a problem at a management level and developing an official stance on it. Steve Jobs and others in management at Apple are making fools of themselves by releasing arrogant statements telling consumers that they don't know how to properly use a phone.

@Avanpelt: well said. If Apple would just release something official and say they are working on the issue and will issue a fix, then I would feel so much better about things. The uncertainty is what it is killing me.

I'm also having issues with calls. Use the Apple headset and on a call. Place the phone in my pants pocket screen facing outward. After a while all on it's own will switch to speaker phone. Never touched anything.

Never happened on my previous 3G phone!

I just wanted to share my experience with this issue....

My Proximity Sensor was not working AT ALL, totally dead, like it wasn't even there. I did ALL of the suggestions on this forum, including 'Reset All Settings', 'Reset Network Settings', 'Restore from Backup', 'Restore without backup', etc.

I called Apple and they said, "It's a hardware issue. Schedule a Genius Bar appointment and get an iPhone exchange.". I did that and got a new iPhone 4. No fuss, no hassle from the Towne Square Apple Store, here in my not so humble home town of Las Vegas, NV.

The device is working perfectly, none of the flakey issues that I see being posted here.

So, it seems that for some units, it is DEFINITELY a hardware issue.

Tried playing around with it last night and it seems I only have the problem when I rest the phone on my shoulder, something I tend to do quite often. However having owned all 3 previous iPhone models this was never a problem.

Posting the same thing 5 times in a row will do nothing but get the thread closed or locked.

jammerjy wrote:
Posting the same thing 5 times in a row will do nothing but get the thread closed or locked.

Which is exactly what we don't need on this issue.