Comments on: Apple acknowledges iPhone 3G reception issues

After weeks of silence, Apple has admitted that the iPhone 3G can suffer from reception problems and that the latest software update is the cure.

[bhcc15]

The update works. I got no internet signal whatsoever in office before and now I can access to the internet now.

[girishnv]

Hopefully it will get fixed by holiday time. I would like to buy a new phone that will work.

Until then ... Apple, don't count on 1 of the 5M customers, i.e. me.

[Vegaman_Dan]

So, I'd love to see a poll of iPhone users who had the 1st gen and now have the second gen phones. Would they be willing to switch back? The 1G models aren't having any of the problems that the second gen units are. It would be an interesting poll.

[jamestony]

My iphone didn't start acting up until 2.0.2., before then my bars went from 5-3. After update 2.0.2. everything seemed to be working better than before(no lag on contacts, still got a lag on pics), but safari didn't work. It worked on my Wi-Fi but not on the 3G network. Edge performed perfectly, almost too perfect it seemed too fast to be Edge. Now after getting a new iphone from Apple the same problems persist, Safari still doesn't work on the 3G network and sometimes on Edge, Wi-Fi its perfect.

[deusexxmachina]

I download the new update 2.0.2 and now I get no 3G or EDGE reception. The call reception seems the same. programs seem alittle faster. But I repeat I have no 3G or EDGE now!!!!!

Do not download this update yet.

[wfayewilliams]

I'm getting really P.O. with Apple. My phone still hangs up on people during phone calls. It hung up on my boyfriend three times in one call yesterday. He asked me would a can and string be more reliable. I'm beginning to agree. That update fixed absolutely nothing. It's still dropping calls...

[TGlatt]

I had a call fail and a call drop on 3G today after installing 2.0.2. Business as usual.

[BLipman72]

Unfortunately, if the software cannot fix the issue, they will probably have do a recall of the devices. That chip is fused inside the device, and can't be replaced. I have a fealing that that might be the way this is going. It is also not fair to blast apple when the device has only been out for about month. I own a tilt and the service for 3g is excellent. I do not believe this to be att issue but i do wish that they would fess up to the fact that there is a problem and offer credit to those customers having the issue. Would be a good pr decision on their part. I also do wish Apple did more testing, but that isnt the first time i have seen a company release a device and have it not work the way it should (Microsoft). Apple and Att should take a lesson from that xbox situation(red ring of death) and though in the short term they might lose a few bucks, in the long run they would profit as the phone would actually work the way it is supposed to. and people would buy it (if July 11th is any indication)

[moretroops]

My iphone has worked great since day 1. Love it.

[egodraconis]

I have a feeling that Apple was aware of these problems before releasing the phone to the public thereby knowingly selling a defective product. iPhone customers will only find this out through evidence discovery in a class action lawsuit. It is doubtful though that a lawsuit will be filed since most Apple fans believe that Apple can do no wrong.

[jake49]

it truely is sad... microsoft messes up everyones on their tail... apple messes up no one even cares...

[gotrsx6]

This Infineon chipset is basically new and untested according to most outlets. Apple decided against using more mainstream providers to samsung, etc, because it wanted control. As usual. As such they went with an untested provider and thats the problem. Firmware can't fix a hardware issue.

[Cpt. Wafer]

Apparently this is a mess, but I know one thing, I'm so loving this phone I wouldn't sell it back for twice the money I paid. I was using a Cingular (now AT&T) 8525. The 3g on my iPhone works better than on the 8525. Not to mention the iPhone is way more elegant.

[speedracer981]

I have had the 3G iPhone as of July 11 and prior to that the 2G iPhone. I have had no issues with 3G signal, reception, or dropped calls.

[buccsmf2]

here's a novel idea, how about you idiots STOP BUYING THE 3G IPHONE. I saw at least 5 posts on here that said "just bought the 3g iphone yesterday and 3G reception is terrible!?!?!?" Why are you people still buying this thing when its obvious that it has serious issues, not to mention the problem might be in the HARDWARE, which would mean that all of you are buying defective hardware. I wanted a 3G iphone but I've decided to hold off until the reception problems are fixed. The faster that apple starts losing money due to decreased iphone sales, the faster this problem will be fixed.

[outers55]

Since updating, my phone seems to be worse. Not sure why. When I can connect I'm connecting at roughly the same speed, which is great, but pages are hanging significantly more often. It also seems that the lag is somehow crashing the browser. I think they changed the transitions for album art when you rotate the phone and unless I'm mistaken (I don't think it used to do this), when I end a call it leaves me at my favorites list of phone numbers rather than dropping me back at whatever screen I was at before. I didn't really expect them to fix it overnight, though I do hope it will run more smoothly in the future.

I just wish that on this forum and others that people would try to be more balanced. Just because someone reports a problem with their phone doesn't mean they necessarily hate apple or had their expectations set too high, it's just part of the process for identifying bugs. Remember, even if a bug effects only one in ten people you still effect over 100,000 people. Though the majority will never see the problem, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm confident apple will get a good fix out eventually if at all possible and in the meantime, they just need to keep everyone informed so that we know what is going on.

Thanks.

[texan1977]

By the way, its not an Apple/At&T issue, it's an APPLE issue. The problem is not with the network but with the iphone's reception.

[crosbyjr]

Apple employees just walk a block from the main campus and you will see the 3G reception issues.


It just so happens I was in Cupertino on non-Apple related business last week. (So anyone from Apple reading along please don't start abducting vendor's children yet.) If you want to see the reported 3g behavior first hand. Simply head on S. De Anza and make a right on Stevens Creek Blvd and you will see the networks attempt to switch and then have the call fail. Or you will get the notification stating that a data connection is not availible. This is less than a mile from the main campus at 1 Infinite Loop.

I tried it 6 times and each time received the same failure.(For those of you who know Cupertino there are a lot of U-turns in this area due to all the medians) It just struck me as kind of funny that it happened so close to the HQ. Perfect test bed. Cupertino is flat and well covered by AT&T and there are not a lot of tall buildings or trees.

[monsoon1906]

I purchased an iPhone 13 days ago and so far my experience has been the following:

EDGE - coverage is usually at 5 bars and it works flawlessly. Data speed is surprisingly faster than expected.
3G - when I'm outside (Boston) I usually get 4 to 5 bars but in the office and at home it's usually in the range of 1-3 bars. Despite the low number of bars at home and in the office I haven't had any dropped calls. Although not quite Wi-Fi speed my 3G data download speed is fast.
Wi-Fi - as expected.

I've run into issues only when the phone is downloading data and it attemtps to switch from 3G to EDGE due to low 3G reception. I'm by no means a computer expert but the fact that my issues are only occuring when the phone attempts to switch from one network to another leads me to believe that this can be corrected via a firmware update.

I have an affinity for Apple products (own a MacBook, 80GB iPod, 160GB iPod) but first and foremost I'm a believer that you should get what you paid for and that if you don't then you should no longer do business with the company in question. I also understand that no one is perfect and that issues occur in the manufacture of new products.

Here's what am I going to do:
I will give Apple some time to work on a solution to address this issue. In the meantime I will manually toggle between 3G and EDGE as needed when downloading data to avoid the issue that's happening whenever the phone attempts to switch networks. If within 2 months this issue isn't corrected to my satisfaction (be it through a firmware update or a product recall) I will expect Apple to reimburse me for my purchase. If they don't the outcome is simple: I will NEVER buy another Apple product again!

Can't tell you to take the some approach but if I think everyone will better off if we give Apple a little time to address this and then hit them hard in the pockets if they don't resolve this to our satisfaction.

Gotta run. Later.

[pixfan]

Having been in Wash DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Albuquerque and other places since I purchased my iPhone 3G, my best 3G experience was in Albuquerque, NM. What a surprise! The signal strength and response times were very good. I am usually in the MD and VA suburbs of Wash DC, where 3G supposedly exists, but coverage and signal strength are spotty. Don't know about the iPhone itself, but the 3G network seems to be weak.

[happyhopi]

This update has not help my connection at all. I used to be able to get several bars at home on another phone. With the new iPhone, I barely get one bar and it bounces back and forth between networks. Switched to ATT because I could get better reception here, but not with this phone.