Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls

Fact: I have been a loyal Apple customer, I own many of their products.
Fact: My iPhone 3 and 3GS never had a problem with routinely dropping calls.
Fact: My iPhone 3 and 3GS never had a proximity sensor problem with face-dialing, face-muting, etc.
Fact: My iPhone 3 and 3GS never had a problem where, if I held the phone in the lower left, the bars dropped dramatically (whether the bars were real or fake to begin with, it never dropped them in this fashion).
Fact: My iPhone 4 had a problem routinely dropping calls.
Fact: My iPhone 4 had a problem with the proximity sensor, routinely face-dialing, muting, etc.
Fact: My iPhone 4 dropped bars when held in lower left.

I will give Apple credit, however. When I called and said I wanted to return it and wait for a later model to be released, they said no problem and emailed me a fed-ex label. I returned it to Apple (I had bought it directly from Apple online) and they credited my account within 2 days. I then went to the AT&T store to re-activate my old 3GS. They did not give me any hassle there either, quickly and willing gave me a new SIM card and reactivated the old phone on my same account. This being said, the AT&T store employee did then try to convince me it was all in my head and must be just unique to my phone. He also came up with a new one that I had not yet heard, that it was all due to a faulty SIM card in the iPhone 4.

That's my experience. Take if for what it's worth. Probably worth waiting for a whole new, later model of hardware to come out -- just my perspective in light of how pricey the phone is.

Good to know it was painless. I'm giving them 2 weeks and then it's going back if the software update doesn't fix the problems.
I hate to go back to my 3gs after using iP4, but I need a PHONE.

Bobby1983 wrote:
Can I please ask a question????

Are there any iphone 3G or 3GS users who have OS4 software installed and are having this issue???

This could narrow it down to software.

Before I got my 4, I had a 3GS that I had updated to iOS4 before exchanging it for the 4. It had the same problem after the update to iOS4

Having the same cheeking issues here. Cant hold a conversation for 10 minutes without muting people with my cheek and the only way i find out i've muted them is when they start going "Hello?.. you still there?.."

Its really really really frustrating. I dont care how much stuff you have packed into this phone with your retina displays and face time and million gigahertz processors but if it cant function as a simple phone its not worth a penny.

I am taking this back next week.

Same problem here in uk on my 16gb, hoping the update in the next few weeks fixes this.

Apple fix this annoying PROBLEM

I had a call last night that went on mute, pinged dtmf key dial sounds into our ears, hung up three times each in a one hour call. In all cases, I saw the screen light up while the phone was still at my ear. This is Real. Never NEVER happened in 2 years with my 3g--happens EVERY CALL with my iphone 4.

If they would just acknowledge the issue, indicate a plan to fix it--this denial and silence and tech support people telling folks "you're the first person to report this!" crap is really annoying. If I knew an update to software was coming in a week, well, I might be more patient. I guess maybe the only way to get their attention is to return all our iphones?

I am really disgusted with Apple, now. I have recommended apple products to friends for years, primarily based on the Positive User Experience. Yes, nice hardware, nice style, but mainly a friendly and natural, intuitive experience just using the products. Now, with iphone 4 itself, and with the Official Stance of the company, and with the disdain and condescension in treatment of customers' issues, they have burned off most of the goodwill. And any smart management would know just how hard it is to build good will back, after you have burned it down.

I loaded iOS4 on my 3GS before I got my iPhone 4 ( on two of them as a matter of fact ) and didnt have this problem....

Seems like its hardware related then?

has anybody heard of a fix yet?

Message was edited by:

Yes it is I like u and prolly every other Iphone 4 user has this problem.

But fear not it's a Non Issue and Stay tuned.

Oh and don't forget Don't hold it that way.

In fact don't hold it at all, your body interfere's with the phones operation and contact with it should be avoided at all costs, all those messy fingerprints mess up the gourgeous Leika Camera Looks, not to mention the noise generated by bits floating around in the case.

Wow. 92 pages of replies. Scary.

I'm seriously close to returning mine.

Any iPhone users with the white version?

I'm curious if the holes help matters.

This issue *****, as well as reception, I used to get full bars in my house now I get dropped calls and now i'm forced to go outside to make calls! This phone *****! They rushed it!

Around the 1400th post with the Proximity Sensor Blues. Read the "Hold Button Fix" here while on phone with Apple Tech. Works perfectly so I know it's a software issue. Got Case # anyway and going to see Apple "Genius" Monday. *&%$@!

What is the Hold Button Fix?

MJWeb wrote:
Around the 1400th post with the Proximity Sensor Blues. Read the "Hold Button Fix" here while on phone with Apple Tech. Works perfectly so I know it's a software issue. Got Case # anyway and going to see Apple "Genius" Monday. *&%$@!

chromeydome wrote:
I had a call last night that went on mute, pinged dtmf key dial sounds into our ears, hung up three times each in a one hour call. In all cases, I saw the screen light up while the phone was still at my ear. This is Real. Never NEVER happened in 2 years with my 3g--happens EVERY CALL with my iphone 4.

If they would just acknowledge the issue, indicate a plan to fix it--this denial and silence and tech support people telling folks "you're the first person to report this!" crap is really annoying. If I knew an update to software was coming in a week, well, I might be more patient. I guess maybe the only way to get their attention is to return all our iphones?

I am really disgusted with Apple, now. I have recommended apple products to friends for years, primarily based on the Positive User Experience. Yes, nice hardware, nice style, but mainly a friendly and natural, intuitive experience just using the products. Now, with iphone 4 itself, and with the Official Stance of the company, and with the disdain and condescension in treatment of customers' issues, they have burned off most of the goodwill. And any smart management would know just how hard it is to build good will back, after you have burned it down.

You, sir, are absolutely correct. I couldn't have said it better myself!