Rumblings began to spread shortly after the iPhone 4 was officially released about problems with the iPhone’s reception. Compliments notwithstanding, hosts of complaints were filed with Apple about the iPhone’s reception. And, likewise, technology blogs and online forum boards quickly filled up with various theories as to why the new iPhone was having problems with maintaining a strong connection.
Among the theories that were promulgated to explain why the iPhone could not seem to maintain its connection was one about the antenna placement. The iPhone 4 is designed with the antenna placed in the stainless steel band that surrounds the iPhone’s outer shell. The designers at Apple believed that this antenna placement would actually serve to strengthen the signal strength. But as problems began to surface with the new iPhone’s reception, people began to believe that the antenna placement could have been the cause of the issue.
On July 2, though, Apple released a letter regarding iPhone 4 that explained the real problem with the iPhone’s reception. Apple reported that it was shocked with the complaints and began investigating the problem immediately upon hearing about it. Apple went on to say that people were reporting that they were losing as many as four or five bars when they held their iPhones in a particular way, which they attributed to the antenna placement.
While Apple admitted that this problem is indeed occurring, it went on to say that the real problem does not lie in the antenna placement. Rather, the drop in bars is due to the formula that Apple uses to calculate how many bars of signal strength are actually available. According to Apple, the formula that the new iPhone uses is totally wrong. As such, the iPhone may report that five bars of signal strength are available when in fact only three bars are actually available. This being the case, it matters not how iPhone users grip their phone because the problem is that the signal is weak, not that the antenna is unable to pick up a signal.
The good news about the source of the problem is that Apple is able to provide a remedy to iPhone 4 owners. Apple plans on implementing the formula used by AT&T to calculate the signal strength at any given time. In doing so, Apple hopes to provide iPhone owners with an accurate depiction of signal strength wherever they may be. Of course, this will not prevent iPhones from dropping calls, for if there is no signal, there is simply no signal. Nevertheless, having an accurate reading of signal strength will eliminate much confusion and frustration.
Apple estimates that the fix will be available by free download within a few weeks time. The download will be available on Apple’s website, and should remedy the problem entirely. As a reassurance, Apple also reminded consumers that they can return their undamaged iPhone for a full refund within 30 days of purchasing it.
