Apple testing fix for iPhone 3G signal issues
A BusinessWeek article purports that Apple is currently testing a fix for widespread loss-of-signal, poor signal and fluctuating signal issues with the iPhone 3G.
Peter Burrows writes:
"Apple and Infineon are currently testing the fix, which will be included in a broader update of the iPhone's software. iPhone owners will be prompted to install the update when they synch their iPhones to a PC, just as they have on many other occasions. In its statement, AT&T said, 'We urge our customers to synch iPhone 3G to iTunes frequently to ensure they have the latest software updates.'"
Users, in droves, have reported signal strength/reception issues with the iPhone 3G when utilizing the 3G network in areas with purportedly strong coverage, per AT&T and other carriers? maps. Most disconcertingly, phones from other manufacturers often deliver excellent 3G signal strength on the same network and in the same location as signal-crippled iPhone 3Gs.
Several users have exchanged their iPhones for replacement units with no improvement.
The iPhone 3G automatically switches between 3G and 2G networks for voice and data connections. In theory, the phone should hop off 3G when signal strength is too low or non-existent, and hop back on when the signal gets better. In our experience, however, the iPhone 3G isn?t aggressive enough regarding the switch from 3G to 2G. In other words, you may find that your phone stays connected to a 3G network when the signal strength is too low to allow incoming or outgoing calls.
The simple solution is to manually turn 3G connectivity, forcing a switch to 2G ? which may take several seconds ? and likely a boost in signal strength.
DH - Amherst, NH
Apple is getting to be as bad as Microsoft for releasing garbage. Look at the MobileMe mess and how long it took Jobs to admit they had a turd in their hands.
Now THAT'S funny. iPhone updates come out what? Every three months? And how many people don't sync their phones on a daily basis?
It appears that this problem isn't merely in the US and some are saying the chipset is bad. How will Apple repair all those phones if the "fix" doesn't work? How many people will be so fed up that Apple will have a lot of people NOT keeping the phone and asking for their money back?
I know of one person who manually did the flipping of the switch to 2G and the reception wasn't as good as my Blackberry 8800! That doesn't seem like a "fix" to me!
Well, I can't be a proud(?) owner of a new iPhone until December, so hopefully they will have this problem fixed otherwise, I just might opt for the NUVIFONE from Garmin after all. (www.garmin.com/nuvifone )
- by jameskatt August 19, 2008 12:49 AM PDT
- Well,
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(10 Comments)I'm having problems with 3G so I turned it off until Apple has a solution.
In any case, I am having a blast with the iPhone 3G - even without 3G.
The applications take the iPhone to a much higher level than the Blackberry.
I have over 40 applications including games, business applications, ebook readers,
entertainment apps, etc. There are already over 1400 new apps in the App Store.
The GPS capabilities are fantastic! I love location services.
Text messages on the iPhone are the best of any cell phone.
Web surfing on the iPhone totally destroys any other cell phone. It is THE BEST
cell phone for web surfing.
I use the iPhone all the time as my primary iPod! And I have five other iPods.
The iPhone is the best cell phone for watching movies and listening to music!
It is rock solid as a cell phone using 2.5G.
It is fantastic when using WiFi. WiFi is much faster than 3G.
AT&T 3G coverage sucks. It covers very few places. In my city, it is only available in a small area of downtown. The rest of the county has no 3G. You would have to travel 90 miles to the next area where 3G is available.
Thus, 3G is not missed. And the iPhone is still the best cell phone I have every used. Bar None.
And this was written on the iPhone.