T-Mobile Netherlands puts reception issues on Apple

T-Mobile Netherlands is telling customers that the iPhone 3G's reception problems are Apple's fault.

(Credit: CNET)

T-Mobile's Netherlands division is blaming the iPhone 3G's reception issues on Apple.

In a company blog posting Tuesday morning spotted by a forum contributor at MacRumors, T-Mobile Netherlands threw the iPhone 3G under the bus, blaming Apple for the problems its customers have been experiencing connecting to 3G networks in that country. Complaints have been cropping up in the U.S. as well about the iPhone 3G's performance on AT&T's network.

"The 3G coverage of T-Mobile is as good as the competition, there can therefore not lie. We suspect that it is a hardware / software specific issue of the iPhone itself," T-Mobile Netherlands said, according to a Google Translation of the post. A former colleague fluent in Dutch translated the second part of the first sentence as saying "so that should not be the issue."

The Google translation of another part of the blog is hilarious, and I'll just post it for amusement: "We therefore recommend to the software updates from Apple in the eye. This you get through iTunes." As you might have guessed, Apple is not delivering software updates through the eyes of iPhone 3G users: my former colleague translated that first sentence as "We advise customers to keep an eye on Apple's software updates."

This is obviously a bit self-serving of an argument for T-Mobile, and they don't exactly back it up. But their willingness to acknowledge the issues in a public forum--as well as blame Apple for the problems--sets them apart from the rest of the wireless industry currently offering the iPhone 3G. Again, it's unclear just how widespread the iPhone 3G reception problems are, but they are being reported all over the globe, and I've never received as much e-mail from Apple customers about a single product issue (even before asking for submissions) as I have over this one.

An Apple representative did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, but I'll update if I hear from the company.

[rdwalton]

Gee, why should Apple accept any blame for their product? You guys in the media give Apple a pass on everything.

[anilsudh]

So typical of the Dutch. Always pointing at others for their problems.

[make_or_break]

So typical of the fanboi genotype, always trying to pass along the responsibility of fault for their pwned idol's deficiencies and inadequacies.

[chishmishdeez]

Apple 3G iPhone is facing problems all over the world... i think carrier did right thing

[faceless128]

if their other phones perform properly, then maybe it is the iphone?

[john55440]

iPhone3G is having problems on a variety of networks, which means that iPhone is the underlying cause.

[Lipmonger]

Thanks Tom for keeping this issue in the spotlight. I continue to have terrible connection problems with my iPhone 3G in Denver (since launch day July 11th). If the iPhone 3G cannot perform it's primary function consistently - which is a phone - then it is useless to me.

WAKE UP APPLE! As a first time Apple customer I am sorely disappointed. The ball is now in your court to impress me, and to show me WHY I should remain your customer!!!

[aristotle_dude]

T-mobile is trying to pass the buck for something that is most likely a problem with their network infrastructure which was exposed by the iPhone's heavy data use on the 3G networks. Speaking as a Canadian iPhone user on the Fido network, I can tell you that there was an approximately 3 day 3G outage in Canada following 2.0.1 firmware release coincidentally and some people initially thought it was caused by the firmware update. Fido admitted to the nationwide network outage and the problems were fixed by the end of that week.

[longgtom]

Unfortunately for Apple, T-mobile did the right thing and duly placed blame for the poor reception where it belongs, the iPhone. After a quick poll taken around the office here in Amsterdam, the non-iPhone users offered no complaints about 3G reception, but our iPhone friends all complained. The dutch may complain about many things, and the complaints are generally warranted but Apple needs to admit failures in their designs and stop trying to pass the buck.

[TV James]

Not sure "The Google translation of another part of the blog is hilarious, and I'll just post it for amusement: "We therefore recommend to the software updates from Apple in the eye. This you get through iTunes."" is hillarious. Maybe slightly amusing.

But what is this? A high school newspaper or a serious technology journalism website? Google's inability to correctly translate seems hardly relevant to the story.

[benjaminstraight]

Blame game. Someone take responsibility.

[benjaminstraight]

Blame game. Someone take responsibility.

[imaginenews]

I lost six calls yesterday just dropped dead, and all crackly..

[oludir]

I switched to Edge full time. Go figure

[chishmishdeez]

Again Apple Folks skipped field test and sold all over the world...... get out on field and drive ur damn vehicleeeeee and test it :)

[Philstera]

Apple is losing all credibility here and they only just got it back. Keep up the good work Tom apple deserve a black eye for the way they treat their customers ie use them as beta testers for incomplete products and charge them for the privilege.

Im returning my new iphone on Monday to get something that is reliable and less costly. What a bad experience this has been.

[retase]

Just wanted to add that Gotreception.com (http://www.gotreception.com) is a great resource for finding out where reception problems are most likely to occur.

[mjkpethen]

My iPhone has better reception than any phone I've ever owned. Sounds like they just need something to complain about & the bad hype is gathering momentum like snowball full of sheep.