Signal issues? You're holding the phone wrong.

With my 3G I had full bars and a dropped call. Could have sworn it was AT&T service since I had full bars. Maybe Apple was just fiddling with the code to give a false signal reading? Deception to put the blame on AT&T service? Surprizing that AT&T didn't call them on this one.

You got to wonder, now that we see that the "fix" is a software update. How does a software update fix a hardware design flaw? It doesn't, it can only misdirect the blame. NOT good.

It works while using a macrocell because your 3G access point is right in your home! The signal is strong enough to work it's way through your hand.

Given the poor reception of AT&T's more congested areas, this only makes the problem worse. You can bet if AT&T is not afraid of speaking out, this news could bode well for repairing some of their bad reputation. Even if the difference is slight, I can see the taking advantage of this situation.

I really do hope that Apple will have a more permanent upgrade or solution of this whole issue of loss of signal when being held...I'm not going to accept their solution of holding it a different way because if you're gonna hold it in an awkward position other than the more normal, comfortable and secure way of handling the phone it can lead to dropping it and that could lead to more problems.

I also don't understand why they never fixed it during the beta test of the phone. There are engineers for crying out loud! People expect a solid product from Apple.

In response to 09MiniMac:

I completely agree with you. I am constantly telling others how wonderful Apple products are and how they "just work". Well this issue is clearly not the case. And to think that Steve Jobs has the nerve to imply that it's the consumer's fault that we are having the reception issue because "we are holding the phone wrong"?

HOW DARE YOU STEVE.

Yes, we all deserve free cases / bumpers to resolve this design flaw.

#1 rule of thumb in the world of retail: the customer is ALWAYS right. Didn't you learn that Steve? Or have you forgotten...

I agree 100%. I think this is going to be a huge situation for both companies now. You have to wonder though, if the software fix is indeed a fix, then what others have mentioned could be true... But how far is Apple willing to boost the power of their antenna at the risk of irradiating everyone?

No joke... I'm sure the FCC will have their eye focused on this one. However, I'd like someone with the right tools to test a before and after phone for radiation levels. And please post here about it! 🙂

Since Apple rarely talks about their faults (the MobileMe launch is the only example I can think of where they did), we can only speculate and this is the mentality that breeds misinformation, lack of consumer confidence, and even conspiracy theories.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a bad suspicion that those bar fixes are purely cosmetic. Now that were more focused on the issue, we will know how to force dropped calls and bring data rates down to zero. If we are still able to control it after the "fix", we'll have proof of this and Apple will have a LOT MORE to answer for.

Either solution doesn't sound too promising to me though.

Now I must say one more thing.... I have been involved with several frustrating issues with Apple in the past. Even though many of them have seemed unfixable in the past, I have been surprised by Apple's results in rectifying many of them. I'm not totally counting Apple out, as they have kept me a very happy and loyal consumer for decades now. This particular incident however, seems to be only rectified by a recall and replacement of the band (possibly making the seam on the bottom). I just wish they would give us the STRAIGHT STORY up front for once instead of quietly mending the strings in the background.

Apple has been known for being pioneers in many ways and their products are awesome. I've been an apple customer for many many years and have spent a lot of money in their products. And this is by far the most ridiculous thing I've heard from Apple and Steve Jobs. It's a cell phone! do you really expect me to only hold my phone a certain way?! Steve mention during the keynote everything that's so great about the iphone 4, but nothing about holding it a certain way conflicting with the signal strength. I paid full price for the phone, $700, I expect to hold the phone however I need to to make a phone call. I've never used covers on my iphone cuz they hide their beauty, and I have no plans on getting one for this one either. How about designing a iphone that doesn't have this problem? Is that too much to ask? How about coming up with an iphone that holds the battery for an entire day, not weeks or months, just a 12hr day. Battery life is no different than my 3GS. Very disappointing. I'm debating wether I'll be returning my phone next week or not and go back to my 3GS. This is unacceptable.

~R

I am definitely NOT suggesting we take AT&T off the hook. I do think this reception flaw compounds the already bad situation though.

Ummm... c l a s s a c t i o n

Free rubber bands, err "bumpers" for everyone! Apple, am I doing it right?

Problem with that is people are reporting back that even with this bumper and other cases the problem still exists.

I'd like to see a video proving this, however.

I also get this reception issue with my iPhone 4, but also noticed the issue with my iPhone 3GS when upgraded to iOS4.

Seems software related to me. And there is logic to suggest it is.

Holding a phone always drops the reception somewhat, in most cases, not enough to really notice. So to me, it sounds like the software is not coping well if with lose in signal, and is either trying to conteract it (and failing), so something is bugging and causing the signal to show as "Searching..." when really it still has reception.

Now, I could be wrong, but I would imagine that the phone would use the signal status to identify if a call can be made or continued. And if this is showing incorrectly, this is what could be causing the dropped calls. (The phone has signal, but as soon as it gets confused and shows "Searching..." it says, well cut all communication).

Again, this is only my opinion of what could be happening (coming from a software developers point of view).

What bugs me is the lack of information surround this issue.

Apple have NOT, and I repeat NOT!!!, release an official statement yet regarding the issue. So everyone stating that "HOLD IT DIFFERENTLY" is the official response from Apple actually makes me a little mad. A mass media frenzy has erupted over the fact that some random blogger claims to have received a response from Steve Jobs ( The CEO of APPLE ) stating that he should hold his phone better.
So, all this media fuss, is as far as I am concerned is total... RUBBISH (edited to avoid someone else editing it for me).

But also, the lack of info from Apple is not on. If I was the CEO of a massive company that had just released a product with a software bug, or potential hardware flaw, I would want to get my side of the story out there ASAP, especially with the media attention at the moment. So from a customer point of view, it looks like something is being covered up.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying this is a guarenteed software fault, but I hope it is.

And to everyone that is being a bit too quick to judge, lets wait for someone official to come from Apple because we slate their resolution.

Wow.. this is a pretty ugly issue, I'm left handed and I'm going to be putting off getting an iPhone 4 until I'm sure this is fixed. Telling people how to hold a phone is rediculous I want to hold it how it's comfortable for me!

Acros-Krik.

Did you delete your data collection thread? I posted to it and got a notification that 57 updates were made to it. But I have no record of it in my account, and I can't find it anymore. What do you think?

+Apple have NOT, and I repeat NOT!!!, release an official statement yet regarding the issue. So everyone stating that "HOLD IT DIFFERENTLY" is the official response from Apple actually makes me a little mad. A mass media frenzy has erupted over the fact that some random blogger claims to have received a response from Steve Jobs ( The CEO of APPLE ) stating that he should hold his phone better.+
+So, all this media fuss, is as far as I am concerned is total... RUBBISH (edited to avoid someone else editing it for me).+

Just ask the UK network operators, they say the official line is "your holding it wrong" & please purchase some additional plastic at 25 pounds to make it work, some apple stores are even giving it away for free to get people out of their shops. It would be helpful for apple to anknowledge the problem and prove that their phone works and it fit for purpose until then as you say the media will keep hyping.

can someone tell me if APPLE is recalling iPhones to fix this or are they choosing to be silent on this and let defective iPhones in the market ? Why is apple not taking this seriously ? Are they liking the bad press .. its everywhere, i know a lot of friends who have stopped and cancelled their orders not because of the defect but because of apple's arrogance in handling this.