Comments on: iPhone 3G network issues frustrating early adopters

iPhone 3G users around the world are reporting problems with signal strength and quality of service on their new handsets, but no specific issues have been identified.

Sam problem - on 3G setting, sitting on my desk or at home, not moving at all reception can go from 3 bars, to 1 to 4 to 1 to No Service in the span of 2 minutes. Sometimes when it lands No Service, it will stay like that until you turn Airplane mode on then off again - if you aren't looking at it all the time you will miss calls / SMS. I am in San Mateo, CA and ATT's 3G map is completely dark blue here (best coverage).

[dougridgway]

Tom ?
I would love to see this article expanded on, as I too am one of those unworthy of receiving 3g coverage at my home in the geographical center of San Francisco. I've spent hours on the phone with AT&T and Apple, and am on phone #3. Nobody is owning this f-up, and the consumers are the ones footing the bill. I was told by AT&T today that yes, there were problems, yes, those problems might include problems with the frequencies of the 3g, yes it might be your hardware, yes, it might be the network, no, we're not going to be doing anything about it in the near future. Shortly thereafter I received a text from AT&T stating that my problem had "been resolved".

I know you've got to be a busy guy, but I tell ya, here's a chance to be the conquering hero for a lot of die-hard mac fans who are feeling left out in the cold. If you happen to work at CNET San Francisco, I'd be happy to meet you at 21ist Amendment, buy you a beer, and ***** about the crappy phone I got stuck with.

Also, interesting breaking news, my week 31 iphone (about an hour old) has more bars than the girlfriend's week 30 iphone... hmmm, I tell you, there's a story here!

? [e-mail]

[snickers79]

I can tell you this it's not the phone it's the service I purchased a v9 in november of 07 and had 90% of my calls dropped and only when using the 3g network. At replaced my phone 3 times saying it was the phone not the network. After the third phone they offered me any phone I wanted at no charge. I picked the LG shine and low and behold I had the same problem. It is only in certain area however one of those areas was my home and I have no land line phone so it was a huge problem. I searched online and found out how to disable 3g on the shine and have not dropped a call since. Unfortunatly I could not find any thing on disabling 3g on the v9 so the phone sits in my junk drawer. I have enabled 3g on the lg shine once every 2 weeks since recinving it in march and everytime I do I drop nearly every call. They really need to fix this!!

[lostinnv]

I started having reception problems a few days ago with my 3G in areas I had not previously. After sitting in one spot for half an hour my reception went from one bar to three bars to no service. I read about the 3G causing conflict with reception so I turned off the 3G and my bars went from one to five and have stayed at five for a few hours now. Guess as long as I am near wi-fi I can at least surf the web reading the many blogs about iphone 3G problems.

[jessie3737]

in Portland, Oregon & Boston , Massachusetts over half of my calls drop if i can even get on the network- i have an 8525 & i haven;t been able to use it since last week bc of the network problems!

[ask88]

I had a Razr with 3g for about a year, no problems what so ever. Very rarely a dropped call. I would talk on the phone in my office, bedroom, back yard etc... Now with my fancy 3g phone EVERY SINGLE DAY I get at least 2 or 3 dropped calls. I live in Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (Arlington Heights). Never more than two bars!! In my office, I get a call and within 5 seconds of conversing, beep-beep-beep- call failed. If I switch and turn 3g off reception is better, but not nearly as good as my Razr. It seems that it is not a network problem, but a hardware problem. I am and have been an Apple fan for a long time, but i definitely am not so impressed with the iphone. The 1 hour back-ups, crashing apps, lack of MMS and video, horrible Mobilme support, and constant dropped calls make me feel a little ashamed. I think I have blindly supported and defended Apple for a good part of 15 years and now I see them as just another company. It is good to be objectively critical. I see on so many message board people defending Apple as if they can do no wrong. It is that kind of loyalty that has afforded them this iphone mess. It is a good to be critical. Apple can and does make mistakes. As saghirmo says, if we complain enough hopefully they will respond. It is not healthy to be like netpirate and assume that a dropped call issue could never be a hardware issue and that it has to be ATT fault. It is obviously an Iphone issue and has nothing to do with ATT?s coverage, at least in my case, since other phones on ATT?s network come in loud and clear in my area.

[Sawlty]

I stood in line and waited 6 hours to get set up. I've enjoyed the many applications. Unfortunately I have had a week from hell since it started locking up. My iPhone 3g has a problem installing from wifi now and locks up without any option but to download jailbreak software to release it from the apple screen. The provider has no answers and wants me to wait 3 weeks to get a new one. The store I bought it from gave me a sony ericssen to use in the meantime. I was told that they'll try to get me a better phone to use. Sure, never heard a thing. Overall it's been attached to my computer longer than in my hands. Extremely long backup and syncronizing and I have a new dual processor machine with lots of ram. I can't stand the fact that you can't do normal click and drag file or copy and paste. Oh well, perhaps I got a lemon...

[onlygal]

Does anyone know if AT&T or Apple plan on fixing the problem? I was with Sprint for 10 years and never had a problem. I am so disappointed in AT&T's service. In the end, I need a phone that will make phone calls forget all the glitz and glamour of the iphone. I want out of AT&T and I want to return to Sprint. I could just get the Instinct and actually be able to make a phone call.

[tawnya2]

Here's something ironic. I live less than 10 miles (probably more like 6 miles) from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, an I can't make a phone call with my iPhone to save my life. I'm a graphic designer and MAC user since 1987--yes, way back when. I was with Verizon, but switched over just to get the new 3G--was even willing to pay the extra cost of the service. I've had it now for 2 weeks and I'm so disappointed. I'd love to keep the phone, but alas . . . no battery life and (no joke) 7 out of 10 times I try to make a call, it fails and I have to dial again. And when I do get through, the reception is so bad that my calls are crackling in and out. It's ridiculous--especially since I use my phone as my main point of contact with clients. As much as I love Apple, and hate to get rid of the phone--because I totally love the design/look/feel--I'm going to cancel my contract, go back to Verizon and get something else. So sad. I feel that Apple really hurt themselves with this one.

[thejoshonator]

I have had the phone for 2 weeks. I drop calls all of the time. Safari times out constantly. If my email even updates, it takes about 10 minutes. The service is beyond terrible. I work in NYC in downtown Manhattan and have full 3G coverage, so it doesn't make sense that it isn't working. I miss Verizon, with them I could call someone from a cave in the center of the earth, with ATT I can barely connect a call sitting on a cell tower (almost literally, my building hosts a ATT cell tower).

[cdevor]

I have no idea if the problem is in the iPhone or the "3G" network - but I know it is very slow and frustrating to use! My wife's Verizon network speed is blazing compared to what I am able to see on my iPhone. I expect the iPhone processor is overloaded and the ATT network is overloaded. I just wish someone at ATT and Apple would acknowledge the problem and get fixes on the way.

[fabmose]

I also have big problems of signal here in Italy with TIM. I am a long time user of Apple and this is the first time I am really disappointed. I had the chance to get a Blackberry in place of IPhone and now I regret I didn't do it.
It's relly incredible, how can you put out a phone that does everything but calling?

Fabio

[lawrence_o]

I have an iPhone 3G since 2 days. I live in Belgium. The phone has worked perfectly for 2 days and then, all of a sudden: Bang: No service! I tried it all: Shut it down, reset it. Try doing a hard reset by holding the home and power button for 10seconds. I tried keeping it shut down for an hour but nothing works. The phone is just plain dead. Anything else works except that I cannot call!! That sucks big time. I called my provider (proximus) but they say since the SIM card works in my old phone, it must be the phone, not the provider and I think they are right. It is simply unbelievable that this is happening. I think it is a side-effect of the locking procedure Apple has applied. Just to be sure, my iPhone is an original piece! It is NOT hacked or not illegitimately unlocked. There is no third party software on it whatsoever! No tampering has been done on it in any way. Just to make my statement!

[ByronnoryB]

3G CONSTANTLY going down. iPhone 3G users pay for 3G service and only get EDGE. EDGE does not work with Safari and other apps. So, what is the point? I called AT&T customer service for Northern CA, and the girl told me I need to get everyone who is having problems with 3G to contact AT&T support before they will do anything. I think this may be an issue for FTC? Isn't this a contract violation since they are not providing the service we pay for?