iPhone 4/iOS 4 bluetooth muffled on other end

Not the same issue...

I am also having the same issue with my iPhone 4. I have tried a Jawbone ICON, Plantronics Voyager Pro and a BlueAnt T1. All of them with the same results being that I can hear the other person fine but they cannot hear me clearly. I tried leaving myself voicemails using the different models to see if I could hear the garbled unclear voice. To my surprise voicemails sound pretty good. I do not know the answer but am more inclined to believe that this is a software issue and not a hardware issue. I have no problem streaming music to my Sony car stereo or to my Bose Wave Radio with Bose Link. If the problem were the outgoing signal then it seems to me the audio to my stereos would also suffer. Several people have had their phones replaced and apparently that solves the problem but in a couple of days it returns with a vengeance. Apple needs to get a handle on this pretty quick. Part of the entire iPhone 4 sales pitch was that reception both cellular and bluetooth would be much better. Now they are trying to convince us that this is a problem indigenous to all cell phones. That is a load of BS.

I have bad news I replaced my Iphone4 and I have been using the new one for 24 hours and I have the same issue with all 3 bluetooth headsets people that call me again tell me I am muffled so DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY REPLACING YOUR IPHONE 4 THE PROBLEM IS THE SOFTWARE. APPLE PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS A.S.A.P THE BLUETOOTH COMPANIES JAWBONE, PLANTRONICS, MOTOROLA, BLUEANT, ECT. ARE GETTING THOUSANDS OF CALLS FOR NO REASON.

BOTTOM LINE PLEASE UPDATE THE SOFTWARE

Did anyone try restoring their phone "as a new phone" instead of restoring their old phones backup?

I'm trying this now and will report back when I find out the results.

Okay, I fixed it! I restored my phone "as a new phone" - NOT FROM BACKUP! It now has a range of at least 30 feet! Before, it had a range of about 4 or 5 feet. It also sounds clearer.

When you restore "as a new phone", it still restores all your data. You just have to reset all the checkboxes in the tabs in iTunes. Also, you will have to rearrange the icons on your phone (which you can do in iTunes) and reset some of your prefs. in the settings and your favorites (phone numbers). Other than that, it syncs up everything, including your apps.

If you restored "as a new phone" and are still having problems, try un-pairing and re-pairing your headset. Also, sometimes just hanging up and redialing will fix the issue.

Also, stay away from computers that have Bluetooth turned on.

Even though your bluetooth extends to 30 feet that will not cure the intermittent muffled sound give the test a few days. Only an update will cure this trust me.

Okay, I fixed it! I restored my phone "as a new phone" - NOT FROM BACKUP! It now has a range of at least 30 feet! Before, it had a range of about 4 or 5 feet. It also sounds clearer.

When you restore "as a new phone", it still restores all your data. You just have to reset all the checkboxes in the tabs in iTunes. Also, you will have to rearrange the icons on your phone (which you can do in iTunes) and reset some of your prefs. in the settings and your favorites (phone numbers). Other than that, it syncs up everything, including your apps.

Sorry, Tried all that...NO Fix.

WHERE WE STAND:
1. Iphone 4 has bluetooth Muffled sound to Incoming calling party, outgoing calls
are for most part ok. When connected, quality and range of audio is very
reduced with minimal performance. Bluetooth device drops on and off while
paired.
Trouble pairing some devices that work fine with other phones and cars. Stereo
headphone devices range, quality very reduced for various makes/models.
2. Problem appears to NOT be any single make/model of bluetooth device.

3. Attempted Fixes:
A) Soft reset of iPhone4 under settings....No help.
B) Hard reset of iPhone4 -Holding Home and power button at same time..NO Help.
C) Complete Reset of iPhone4 with iTunes....No Help.
D) Switching bluetooth On and Off while on call....No Help.
E) Removing bluetooth device on iPhone (ignore this device) and re-pairing
device as new....No Help.
D) Switching from speaker to bluetooth to iPhone to bluetooth....No Help.
E) Installing insulted iPhone cover, sleeve....No Help.
F) Contacting Apple support with trouble ticket MANY Times....NO HELP.

Regarding the issue of sounding muffled when using a Bluetooth headset I have this theory based upon unscientific experimenting (maybe this was already documented and I missed it):

The iPhone's microphone is being used and not the headset's microphone. Even though the headset's earpiece is being used.

I took an incoming call and with the phone in my pocket I sounded muffled but with the phone held near mouth I sounded fine. I repeated this several times and it seemed clear that the iPhone's microphone was being used. I hung up and then called the person that had called me and then the headset's microphone began to be used.

So - definitely a software issue and related to which component is being activated. I hope they fix it but for now we all may have to ask callers if they can hang up and allow us to call them back (not very professional for those of us who talk to business customers regularly).

Hi Guys, I have the same problems with 3 iPhones 4, I tried everything you can imagine.
I'm working with Apple Support Rep for 2 weeks now and this is what I got today:

At this point, although I would hate to suggest you returning the phone, I have no other options to offer you at this point. Engineering is standing firm in that there is no issue with the phone. My hands are tied. I understand that you are a loyal Apple customer. Still, given the situation, I can completely respect you wanting to return the phone.

Basically Apple wants me out off the Apple Family.

As with all situations of this nature there are 2 possibilities. Apple is either 1) unable to admit there is a problem or 2) unwilling to admit there is a problem. My guess would be for #2. They are in the same situation Toyota was in a couple of months ago. Granted there are no lives at stake here. However, an admission of a problem to you would also be an admission to everyone else. I am certain Apple employees from top to bottom have been told to not admit any problems with the iPhone 4. Until the engineers come up with a viable solution mum is the word.

I have already exchanged my iphone4 for a new one and have the same issue. It's the software.

Has ANYONE tried to restore their phone "as a new phone", as opposed to "restoring from backup?

I did, and now my Voyager Pro works. It's not perfect, but it's not muffled anymore. Also, I STILL have at least 30 feet of range.

Please let me know if anyone has tried this.

Quoted for Truth:

Zekebrad wrote:
I have already exchanged my iphone4 for a new one and have the same issue. It's the software.

Are you all not reading what people are posting? It's not just an iPhone 4 problem. It happens on iPhone 3GS devices that previously worked fine with 3.x. CLEARLY it cannot be a hardware problem. Quit exchanging and restoring your phones, hoping for a miracle. If you want a working iPhone get an iPhone with 3.x on it.

+ 1. Well said.