Comments on: CNET readers share their iPhone 3G stories

iPhone 3G reception issues were reported in 32 states across the U.S., and while Apple has yet to officially acknowledge the problem, technical support staffers are well aware.

[dukecityjim]

I've had mine about a week. It's the first product I've purchase from Apple that I regret buying.

Battery life is pathetic. I don't talk on the phone much because I'm on a phone all day at work. The battery never makes it though a day without being recharged. In order to make it through a day without the battery totally draining I have to shut it off for long periods. When I'm out of the house I turn off, bluetooth,WIFi and usually the 3 G because they take power but even after all that the battery only last a few hours.


My e-mail doesn't download 98% of the time. It's one of the main reasons why I wanted the iPhone.

It's never synched correctly with Mobile Me. While my iMac and my Macbook are both mirror images of each other, my bookmarks are all screwed up on the iPhone. One of my e-mail address has not and will not synch and I've not found a way to add one manually after synching.

ATT's coverage map says I should have 3G coverage at home. I've never seen it.

As far as I can tell there are problems caused both by Apple and ATT.

[NCTARHEELS]

I'm surprised Apple and/or ATT hasn't publically addressed the 3G issue. I doubt ATT is to blame; I've heard that iPhone 3G users around the world are experiencing 3G issues; Maybe it's a tower technology problem.

Unfortunately, I have to jump on the bandwagon with other iPhone users who have subpar 3G reception. My old Samung Blackjack had full bars of 3G reception, while my iPhone gets 2-3 bars of signal. Edge is usable outside my house, and my wifi serves me well at home, so it's not a large issue for me. (full five bars of edge almost everywhere)

[mtlatl]

I bought an iPhone 3G three weeks ago and it has been a problem th entire time. I have gotten Apple to replace the original and I am still having the same problems. Mostly with e-mail and the sync with our Microsoft Exchange Server. When the phone attempts (and in most instances is not successful) to switch from 3G to Edge to wi-fi it forgets how to connect to the server and I am unable to access any of my e-mail accounts (yahoo and MS exchange). I had a BlackBerry prior to this phone and may need to go back. Any suggestions on fixes?

Thanks -

[mavalos88]

I have no problems with reception at all. I can't connect to the 3G data network sometimes though. Disconnects me pretty often actually. Calls are fine like I said.
Live in Mexico.

[cnetblue]

This can not be a #G problem. 3G was running fine in all of the cities that are having problems back when the iphone didn't even have 3G capabilities. Now all the apple flavored Kool Aid drinkers want to blame the system that has been around longer then there phone. Get serious, if you phone doesn't have mutli media messaging do you really think you have a solid system to run on 3G????

[cirtap]

I don't have the new 3g phone i have last years model, BUT when i downloaded the new firmware into my phone, I too started getting more and more dropped calls. And plus my phone used to be fast and Now with the new firmware, My phone stalls more and more. I start to look into my emails and my phone freezes up.

Then a new firmware 2.2.1 ???? i am gettin confused about all this now came out and IT was to save this phone from crashing and freezeing up, NO!!! I still get dropped calls, and my phone still freezes up. Way to go Steve Jobs. Thanks for NOT fessing up what lousy firmware you have placed into the new and old phones. That is what gets me the most, the LACK of concern, The LACK of telling his consumers what a lousy job JOBS has done.

The Apple Board should fire Steve Jobs for this mess, Apple has turned into Apple Sauce.

[cirtap]

......and i love this, AT&T truly blames Steve Jobs, and Steve Jobs aint talking. I will bet everyone this. It is either the firmware, which continues to screw up my phone, or it is going to be a "TOTAL RECALL" with the new 3G phone. AND ARNOLD aint involved with this Total Recall. Either way, it has been a complete blunder on Steve Jobs. What I don't get is this, Why no comments???

It truly makes you all wonder, who is in charge at Apple??? It seem to me, being a unedumocated fellow, Why no one seem to test out this new 3G??? And if it is the firmware, which i think it is, since my old phone is now going completely bonkers, why didn't they APPLE test that out. Hey Steve Jobs, before you push your CRAPPY APPLES on the over eager buying public, TEST IT OUT FIRST, and stop blaming the ever CRAPPY AT&T, they have enuff problems ie no human contact with their consumers, without having to deal with Apple issues.

[energieon]

I've been on AT&T 3G since March with my Sony Ericsson K850 and have never experienced any problems at all with it I've had a strong signal in all of the metro DC area, NYC and Baltimore, if I didn't read this I wouldn't have known people were having issues with the service.

[maniac947]

Still cant beat my mogul! Sprint all the way!!!

[Chasetastic]

I had the exact same experience as "Andrew Kowalyshyn". When I took it to the Apple Store after AT&T switched out my SIM, they told me just to turn off my 3G. He even said, "Well, do you want to return it and get your money back?"
I asked him, too, if I could exchange it and he said no. He repeated again that I should turn 3G off and wait until AT&T has better coverage; and, in the meantime, I can pretend like I have an original iPhone. Which has been a blast. *sigh*
He didn't really acknowledge the fact that it was a widespread issue, though, and said what I had read on blogs and forums was just a rumor.

I live in downtown St. Louis, too, which has fantastic 3G coverage on every single other phone I or any other friend or family member owns.

So awesome help, Apple. Thaaaanks.

Otherwise, I LOVE my new iPhone 3G. Honestly, I do. It's just the reception that's been bugging me.

[societyvictim]

wow this is crazy how tye AT&T network isn't working for many of you, in what seems to be larger cities. What else I have noticed was that I'm not seeing any of these complaints from small town dwellers. I'm here in Springfield MO and have yet to have a dropped call, missed 3G networking, or any of the other things that iPhone owners are reporting. I'm even writting some of this in an elevator going to the bottom floor. I think my reception is fantastic, though I do have some problems with apps crashing and lag in the phone. But back to the subject, I think the small town guys are getting the best reception or it could be that most small towns don't have 3G so you won't have new iPhone users there to complain. Either way I hope apple or AT&T finds the problem and fixes it for you guys.

[ericmendo1]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe it!!! After all the Loops Apple and At&t made all there CUSTOMERS jump through to get this phone and now my calls are being dropped more often on this iPhone than any other phone I have ever had!!!! Something wrong with this picture! and trust me when i say this is just one of many bug and glitches and annoyances on this phone!!

_eric m

[Reminis]

UK user here... perfect signal... no drop outs....
The ocasional crash when launching a 3rd party application but nothing i wouldn't expect from any newly developed product using non standard issued software.
The battery life is very good as long as you know how to set your iphone to what you actually use on it,
There is a great article on this here on Cnet.
My only gripe is the whole picture messaging subject (lack off) and no flash/light on the camera.
Otherwise it has totally lived up to the hype.
Looking forward to future improvements......

[dillon11494]

Hey Tom i read all your articles on the iphone cause i have had the first and second. Well my first one was dented a little from my use but it worked fine so i sold it to someone. Before they picked it up i restored it but then it gave me a black screen with the apple logo and it wont come off. It has been like that for two weeks. Then i brought it to apple and they told me they will not service my applecare warrenty because of the dents > This is horrible!

[paindoc66]

What is criminal is the expectation of dropping calls. I cannot have a conversation in and around NYC without the network dropping. No answers from at&t and paying a premium over my 2G. My other complaint is without using a protective sleeve, the bottom of the unit has a sharp edged surface that is not comfortable to touch. In black color, it is more difficult to differentiate the top and bottom of the phone and forces you to fumble it around. But that's a small quibble, just fix the phone service please.

[jfalsken]

I like the idea that you have to turn off all the bells and whistles in order to use the device. In the end what did you all pay for? If you have to turn them all off to use the darn thing! Glad I didn't get suckered into buying one of the turn off everything for use phone. Thanks Blackberry for not selling me junk like Apple does.. Apple where you have to pay for getting nickeled and dimed for everything. You buy the unit then have to pay for each and everything you want to use, nothing comes with the phone but an empty wallet! Ha! Ha! That why it is an Apple Product!

[hagosrush]

I am a prior ATT and useless phone (iphone) user. I have had both the 2G and the 3G phones. I will being by saying that I live in a basement. Approximately SIX feet under ground. I could NEVER make a call from my own house without the call dropping or hearing the person on the other line say that I sound like I am underwater and I should call from my house phone.

My iphone would drop calls in wide open areas that supposedly was "rich" on the ATT coverage map. The reason I received from ATT was that because I was in a moving vehicle that the problem was sometimes a tower has too many calls and has to bounce a call from it.

That is the biggest bunch of BS that I have ever heard from ANY carrier. ATT's service has continued to deteriorate thanks to the iphone. I will not even exert any extra time on that battery chugging, call dropping in the midst of Manhattan, cant get a signal in the midst of MANHATTAN NY, phone that apple calls their 3G "twice as fast commercial."

The problem is mostly with Apples crappy excuse for a phone, ATT's crappy service simply sinks the boat. This is the latest debacle of what is turning out to be the WORST phone in the history of my mind. I say this only because of all the promises that apple have made and have not fulfilled.

The browser is great, the phone is pretty, the touch screen is ground breaking. None of this matters if I cannot make a call, copy & past, get a signal, or even have my phone last more than four to six hours while using the seemingly hard to find 3G network.

[BeatleMegaFan]

Interesting... You know, I own an iPod Touch, and here is something that bothered me.

After the 2.0 upgrade, my iPod began registering one (1) bar of WiFi connectivity in my home when the router was just in the other room. After one of my PCs died, I moved the router into my primary office room (I kept the networking gear in the middle of the house in order to provide adequate coverage to all wireless devices) at a different end of the house. Now my iPod usually sits in here when I am not using it, and even though it is sitting RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ROUTER, the WiFi connection register only ONE (1!) bar.

The iPod was running 2.0.1. I just now updated to 2.0.2 and no longer does the iPod register a consistent one bar connection. As soon as I turn WiFi on, it immediately goes to 3 full bars. Very good indeed. Download and browsing speeds are normal, and I think that the iPod is running a little more efficiently now. Good job Apple. My point is, if the 2.0 software limited wireless connections on the iPod, the 3G and EDGE problems may be in fact software issues as well. So far, I haven't heard if the update has fixed coverage problems for iPhone users, but I hope it does; I plan on switching to AT&T soon. For existing iPhone users: my advice is to wait it out. There will be a fix if the update today does not solve the problems.

-BMF

[stteve]

If Apple and AT&T are working on a software fix - than many believe won't solve the problem - leaving Apple with a major hardware recall ... why are Apple and AT&T still selling a product that is defective?

[IowaNinersFan]

Believe it or not, there are still idiots out there that would buy anything that is made by Apple (working or not).

[mjadamci]

Just loaded 2.0.2 update and voila, 3G works on my bottom floor apartment now consistantly. Before it would switch to Edge. Hopefully this good thing continues. I've tested it several times with DSL reports and always got at least 330kps on the one line of reception with 3G. This is great!