This morning, Apple released an official statement addressing issues surrounding the iPhone 4’s antenna and reception. Many early-adopters of Apple’s latest flagship device have noticed less-than-desirable reception when gripping the phone in a certain manner. Isolated to the lower right portion of the device, holding the phone in an alarmingly “normal” position can result in abrupt and significant signal loss for some users.
In an official letter to iPhone 4 owners, Apple has admitted that the issue is real and that they are actively working on a software fix. Apple claims the issue is rooted in an improperly calculated algorithm which correlates directly to the number of signal bars displayed by the phone. Due to an erroneous calculation, the iPhone 4 displays more bars than actually exist in some areas of weaker service.
The letter mentions that a software update is currently in the works, and should be released sometime within the coming weeks. While this update will correct the amount of bars displayed in weaker service areas, Apple has oddly omitted any information relating directly to the phone’s hardware and design. Apple claims this reception problem also persists in the iPhone 3G and 3Gs models and that both devices will be included in the update.
In an effort to quell anxiety surrounding the issue, the letter mentions that signal loss is normal in any mobile phone when gripped in a certain way. While this statement undoubtably carries a defensive tone, Apple remains objective by clarifying their return policy for anyone who is unsatisfied with the new phone.
While this issue is not universal, it has affected a substantial number of iPhone users. Even if Apple’s fix doesn’t fully resolve the technical issues surrounding the phone’s antenna, it will at least provide users with a more accurate depiction of signal strength. The letter in its entirety can be found here. If you’re an iPhone 4 user experiencing this problem, please feel free to email me your thoughts or comment here.