IPhone 4 Bluetooth Issues

I know that Jawbone has been complaining to Apple for a while. I suspect other manufacturers have also been leveraging Apple for a fix.

What worries me is that this isn't a "news item" like other Apple bugs sometimes are. None of the big Apple blogs talk about it, much less any non-fanboy sites. If there were greater pressure from online media, perhaps it would be fixed faster? I'm not saying that CNN should pick up the story, but TUAW and Macrumors would be nice 🙂

bj

Hello all. I want to add something to this forum to see if anyone has any updates to the BT on the iPhone 4. I have it for VZW and have a handsfree unit made by Parrot, LS3200 unit. I was able to pair the two devices and have no issue on the first use. After I power down the car to go into the office and then come back to start it, the unit powers on and no re-connect to the unit. If I toggle the BT on the iPhone all works and is fine. Seams like BT is having an issue on the iPhone 4. Anyone else have some kind of issue like this?

Ladies and Gentlemen
I just wanted to chime in and share some of the Bluetooth issues I have recently experienced. I have a 1 year old Plantronics Voyager Pro that has worked flawlessly with my old iphone 3GS, as well as a new Sound ID 510, that I just recently acquired. Both headsets have multiple microphones to facilitate noise cancelation features. I have attempted to use both headsets with my new iphone 4, that I purchased January 31st.
I have experienced peculiar problems with both headsets. With my iphone 3GS, the Voyager Pro had always performed well and I never received a complaint regarding background noise, or difficulty hearing me clearly, even while driving in an open vehicle. However, when I recently upgraded to the new iphone 4, complaints were quick to follow. Since I use my iphone and Bluetooth headset extensively for business, sound clarity and hardware invisibility are both paramount. In addition, after upgrading to the iphone 4 and pairing the Voyager Pro, the headset began experiencing connectivity issues. It would disconnect in the middle of a call, which was not only frustrating, but aggravating to my clients. Consequently, I replaced my headset with one that was advertised as specifically targeted to be fully compatible with the iphone 4, the Sound ID 510. I was especially encouraged by the number of positive reviews I read. When first installing the 510, I experienced difficulty maintaining a connection just as with the Voyager. I immediately downloaded the much lauded Earprint software and found some of the advertised features were not functioning. I contacted Sound ID customer service (they picked up on the first ring…unbelievable). The representative said that the embedded 510 firmware was probably an earlier version and created prior to the latest iphone firmware release, version 4.2.1. She suggested that I upgrade to their latest firmware as this was most likely the source of my problems. In fact, after I upgraded the Sound ID firmware as recommended, all of headset advertised features such as sound pass-through and the 2-D equalizer were activated and fully functional. HOWEVER, not all of my Bluetooth issues were resolved.
Though now my 510 no longer disconnected randomly from the iphone, the ringer still seldom worked. Approximately I out of 30 rings could be heard via the headset. Consequently in noisy environments, I missed important calls. In addition, the noise cancelling feature still did not function and I received many client complaints regarding background noise and lack of clarity.
Thinking that I might have purchased a defective headset, I returned the Sound ID 510 to AT&T for replacement. Just to be diligent, before pairing the replacement headset to the iphone 4, I immediately upgraded the firmware of the new headset as previously recommended by Sound ID. However, I am still experiencing exactly the SAME problems with the ringer and noise cancellation. This has led me to conclude that the Bluetooth failure lies with the iphone 4, and is either: a software glitch, or heaven forbid, a hardware problem.
My next step is to RESTORE my iphone 4. I will eliminate all software, apps, and settings and reflash the firmware of the fully virgin iphone 4 using the latest firmware, 4.2.1 ipsw, that I downloaded as a zip file from iphoners.org. It is the same software that iTunes would download, but I can download it using an accelerator, unzip it and store it on my desktop, thereby speeding up the process. Once I reflash my iphone, I will pair and test my original Voyager Pro headset. Then I will pair my Sound ID 510, test it, download the Earprint software, and then test the device again.
If both headsets fail to perform as I expect they will, I can then only conclude that the problem is an Apple compatibility issue that they will eventually address. Since I will not be able to ascertain whether the problem is software or hardware related, and since I have little confidence that Apple would offer existing customers an exchange or upgrade to a new iphone if the issue was indeed a hardware glitch, I will be returning my iphone 4 to AT&T before the 30 day no questions asked return window expires.
I like my iphone 4, unfortunately without reliable Bluetooth functionality, the fact that a wired headset is cumbersome, and laws are being written that dictate how drivers use their cell phones, I am forced to rethink further upgrades and continue to use my reliable iphone 3GS.

As I posted on the other apple forum BT topic, "The interesting thing about Apple's BT issue is that some users are able to get good functionality and zero issues from a given headset (like the VH110) on their IP4's running 4.2, and other users try the same headset on their IP4's running 4.2 and get zip."

I therefore hypothesized in that post that this iPhone/BT issue is a combination of hardware and one or more conflicting apps, so I will be VERY interested to hear your findings when you reload your iP4 without apps and test it in that configuration.

Fingers-crossed in Pittsburgh.

I purchased iphone 4 on Verizon on feb 11, 2011 and it synchs with my 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan BUT no one can hear me at all, only I can hear them. I guess I have go back to my BlackBerry Bold, where everything works as it should. Better luck next time Apple. Maybe the 5th time will be a charm.

For what it's worth BlueTooth does work with my Pantronics Discovery 640 but i'm told I sound a little like in in a tin can. I've not heard that feedback when I used it with my BlackBerry.

Hopefully someone from Apple will read this:

I am enjoying my new HTC Inspire Android phone.
I sold my iphone 4 on Craigslist.
AT&T allowed me to keep my unlimited data plan.
Voyager Pro Plus now works as advertised......all the time.

Problem solved.

Just to chime in, I also have a problem w/Bluetooth pairing between the new iPhone 4 (that I just bought 2 hand -- so no warranty) and my 2010 Prius.

It pairs up w/my Prius w/o difficulty but I have had 2 disconnects in 2 days. The cheap LG flip phone that it replaced never had any Bluetooth issues whatsoever.

As soon as Apple acknowledges the problem, I hope this is fixable by software.

Update, replacement #4 started with deteriorating voice quality and ended the day making and breaking the BT connection.
Earlier in the week I got out of range a few times and had to manually connect when I got back in range.
It lasted 8 days. I still haven't returned the last one yet.
This time I spoke with a senior advisor that had me use the new one as a new phone so I lost call and tet histories as well as page placement and favorite phone # settings.
I never set up mail on it and left WIFI off from day one...
I4 #5 coming soon or a 3GS and a refund of $100 and an Otter box or a Ballistic case.

Update, today replacement #4 started with deteriorating voice quality and ended the day making and breaking the BT connection.
Earlier in the week I got out of range a few times and had to manually connect when I got back in range.
It lasted 8 days. I still haven't returned the old one yet.
This time I spoke with a senior advisor that had me use the new one as a new phone so I lost call and text histories as well as page placement and favorite phone # settings.
I never set up mail on it and left WIFI off from day one...
I4 #5 coming soon or a 3GS and a refund of $100 and an Otter box or a Ballistic case.

Since I purchased my iPhone4 last summer I've had 2 bluetooths (Plantronics & Jawbone Hero). The Hero was ok but I lost it today and need to purchase another one. I have it narrowed down to the Jawbone Era or the Sound ID510; any thoughts on either one? Any other suggestions??

Dodie414 wrote:
Since I purchased my iPhone4 last summer I've had 2 bluetooths (Plantronics & Jawbone Hero). The Hero was ok but I lost it today and need to purchase another one. I have it narrowed down to the Jawbone Era or the Sound ID510; any thoughts on either one? Any other suggestions??

Well, that's not really what we're talking about in this tread, but since you're here, did you ever have any problems with either headset using your iPhone 4? Any random disconnections or poor audio quality?

bj

I started with a new company in January, I went from a Blackberry Tour to the Iphone 4. At first I ahted the Iphone, but I have learned to like it.

HOWEVER, I work in the Chicago market and here you HAVE to be hands free when talking on the phone, it is the law. With that said, the Iphone 4 does not like bluetooth. I have a Plantronics Voyager Pro that I ahve used on two separate phones and NEVER had an issue. Now I never know if the headset will work or not.

To best describe my issues I will let a 4 year old tell you what happens, sometimes I am fine other times I sound like "WALL-E" from the Disney movie. I use this phone for work and I cannot have these types of problems. I have had MULTIPLE customers of mine complain they cannot understand me at all, so now I warn people this might happen at any given time.

I am waiting for the new software, if it does not come out soon or does not fix the problem, I will be getting a Blackberry Torch. Quickly when is the new software supposed to be released?

MTNation wrote:
Quickly when is the new software supposed to be released?

Hopefully tomorrow (at the "Media Event"), or later this week. iOS 4.3 is in GM status, and that's the last step before a public release.

bj

Hi, I´ve been experience lot´s of probem regarding the connection of my bluetooth headset (BH-900 - Nokia) within my Iphone 4. I just wanna complain and be one more upset customer so maybe aplle will lokk at it and release a update to fix it very soon

I too want to register my iPhone bluetooth woes. I depend on my bluetooth for work, and I have had NOTHING but problems with it for months now. People complaining about digitized voice, not being able to hear, constantly disconnecting and then reconnecting to my phone. I've been through 3 different bluetooth devices to no avail! (very expensive) It's almost unusable. How this has gone on for so long without a solution is, in my opinion, a real black eye for apple. How do we trust that new products are actually going to be better than the old ones? I never had these issues with G3.