Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls

Hi,
I have also the same problem. Correct me if I'm wrong but the screen of my new iPhone 4 does shut down correctly, but the icons and touchscreen both remain activated. I really hope an update of ios could solve the problem...
Wait and see...

Add me to the list of users with proximity sensor issues. I have only had the phone a week and I've already ended more calls, put more people on mute, and initiated second calls than I did in ONE YEAR of using the 3Gs. This is asinine.

I thought it was just me. Now I know that it is s real issue. I hope that they fix it with the update.

I've experienced the same issues since I purchased the new iPhone. I've muted or hung up on someone on 100% of the calls that I've made from the iPhone 4 except when I use speaker phone and set the phone down.

I am having the same problems and just got off the phone with Apple. According to the guy I spoke to he's only seen this problem once before. He suggested reset which I had already done and then suggested to restore. I haven't done that since a bunch of you already have and it hasn't helped the problem. Unfortunately, to get a replacement will take 10 days to 2 weeks. I think I'll wait and see if a software solution is forthcoming. I really don't want to return it because I love the device but if it can't function reliably as a telephone then it isn't worth the frustration...I can go back to my 3GS until this problem is admitted to and fixed one way or the other.

The support tech did suggest that I go to apple.com/feedback and leave feedback on the issue. Maybe if everyone does that someone will listen. As I said to the tech, the most frustrating thing is the lack of acknowledgement by Apple that there is an issue.

Yep - my phone keeps switching the speaker phone on and off and has muted me several times. I've also lost several calls, but I don't know if they just dropped or if the phone actually hung itself up.

The recently released Press release from apple does not mention the issue with the proximity sensor.
so the question is: will the new update address this problem as well?

100% of my calls are affected by this. mute, facetime, random sms, third party calls, and ending of calls are all the symptoms. i've went into the store and exchanged it once already. replacement phone has the same issue. first i thought it was my face (shape? texture?), then the way i was holding it (pushed hard against my ear to make sure zero gap existed). no luck, still fail.

3GS never did this. speaker phone works to remedy it, but then i'm shifting the issue to the other person ("what? i can't hear you, can you repeat that?" is common).

The first few days I got my phone I had not noticed any problems but I also had not used my phone a lot. On the day I actually used it for some important calls for work I started getting dropped calls. It was like other every phone call. I tried to repeat the death grip but it did not really work. Then last night as I was talking on the phone I was by a mirror and noticed my phone light up while against my ear. I then continued to talk and watch and noticed if I loosen it up against my ear it lights up especially if you move the bottom of the phone. Also if I push the phone tight against my ear it mutes the phone. So the light comes on and when it is not on sometimes the buttons are still active. I really wonder if most people are having this problem more so then the death grip and just assume the death grip is what the problem is. I love my phone and facetime and speaker are fine, I have not lost a call on either. I hope they fix this problem.

My wife and I are also having the same problems with our 2 iphone 4's. the proximity sensor does work intermittently, but the screen will come on during calls when next to our face causing buttons to be pressed during the call by our cheeks.

Is there any fix in the works? this problem makes calls very troublesome to make.

Do this:

While your on a call (on hold w/ Apple works just fine, lol)...

Put the phone down on a table, switch to "keypad", and hover your finger over the Proximity Sensor: your screen should go dark.

If it doesn't you have a hardware issue, and should probably swap out your phone.

Then, if your screen is dark, using the other finger, randomly press the screen.

Remove the other finger so the screen lights back up.

Chances are your screen says "45880132".

THAT'S THE PROBLEM !

The proximity sensor works. It just doesn't turn OFF the ability to press the button, like it should.

Duh.

I just got off the phone with AT&T and I found out that it will cost me approximately $95 to terminate my contract if I return the iPhone 4 within my 30 day return window. That's a little less than half of what I paid for iPhone 4. I already got rid of my 3G, so going back to that phone is not an option. I suspect I'm not the only one in that boat.

The more I think about it, the more I am very tempted to ditch AT&T and jump over to Verizon and get the soon-to-be-released Droid X. Aside from having 3G in nearly the entire state of Georgia, the other -- bigger -- factor that's making me want to jump is because I see it as a way that I can directly "punish" Apple for being so foolish that their CEO actually thinks he can tell consumers that they're holding a phone incorrectly. The arrogance in that and other such statements really angers me. I never in my wildest dreams thought that Apple would be responsible for causing AT&T to lose business, but it appears that it might be the case. Heck, even if they release a software fix for the proximity sensor, I may still jump based on principle.

If you think about it, the iPhone 4 and what Apple has said about it are in direct contradiction to what they pride themselves on saying with respect to their other flagship products. I never would've bought my MacBook Pro almost two and a half years ago if the "genius" at the Apple Store saw me using the demo laptop the way I would use any other laptop and came over and told me that I couldn't use the computer that way. No, in fact, what sold me was the fact that they said, "Yep, you can do most things like you always do, but there are other things you can do that you never could do with a PC and they're really intuitive and make sense once you start doing them." And you know what, the genius was right about that. That's why I swear by my MacBook Pro and will continue to buy Apple computers -- that is until such time as I'm told that I'm using the computer the wrong way. 🙂

Yeah, who knows if the new fix will address this. It says it will be available in a "few weeks," which may give them time to address more than the antenna/signal strength formula. BUT, it also says the fix will be available to the 3G and 3GS versions. Seems like a fix for our issue would only be targeted to the new phones.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/02appleletter.html

I was having the same issue. Did a RESTORE and SET UP AS NEW IPHONE last night and haven't had a problem since. Seems to be a bug when first setting up the phone and restoring from a 3gs. Like I said i haven't had any problems since. Hope this helps!!! Cheers!

FYI: if the speaker is on, the proximity sensor seems to be deactivated.