Apple Working On Method Of Reducing iPhone Accessory Wireless Interference

[MacRumors]

A patent application unveiled yesterday (#20070123207) indicates that Apple is working to help Cingular AT&T Wireless remain the carrier with the "least" dropped calls.

The patent application describes a method of determining whether an attached accessory would interfere with the wireless communication of a handheld device (i.e. an iPhone).

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a wireless handheld device includes one or more antennas and a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories. The handheld device further includes an accessory detector coupled to the connector and configured to detect whether an external accessory coupled to the connector may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device.

Apple says that the device may alert the user (via audio or visual message), or may try to rectify the situation by tuning the handheld's RF frequency.

[TheSlush]

An attached accessory like what?

[stoid]

I love the use of the cross-outs!

I also think that AT&T probably made one of the best choices in their history by partnering with Apple. Apple is very insistant on delivering a good experience for the consumer, andI look forward to cell phone innovations the Apple will drive.

[jholzner]

What's with the smarta** strike-throughs in the article? Doesn't seem appropriate even if you don't like ATT.

[mikeinternet]

accessory that i want most - GPS receiver.

[syklee26]

the only accessory that causes interference is your big melon that creates G-force.

[alec]

What planet do I live on where Cingular gets to claim having the least dropped calls? Seriously, their service is atrocious.

[cmcconkey]

I hope that they do a good job with AT&T especially since it may raise the bar in my area. The reason that they have the fewest dropped calls in this area is because you actually have to connect with the person you are calling to have a chance at dropping the call. Also around here it is not dependent on the handset that you have, I have dealt with many and all get about the same usefulness.

But back on the subject, leave it to Apple to bring on the "Smart" accessories that won't cause much/if any interference.


CM

[aricher]

Originally Posted by alec

What planet do I live on where Cingular gets to claim having the least dropped calls? Seriously, their service is atrocious.

It seems Cingular/AT&T's service varies from place to place and device to device. I had a moto phone and had tons of dropped calls in the Chicago area. Bought a Nokia - problem solved, I have not experienced one dropped call in over a year anywhere I've gone including overseas. What kind of phone do you have with Cingular/AT&T and where are you using it?

[xUKHCx]

Dropped calls what are they? Seriously haven't had one of those for about 3 years. How bad is/are the american coverage/service providers.

[shawnce]

Originally Posted by xUKHCx

Dropped calls what are they? Seriously haven't had one of those for about 3 years. How bad is/are the american coverage/service providers.

The USA is a huge place with much open space... but anyways as Aricher noted some phone models have issues that limit their reception others are excellent when used in the same location and with the same provider... so often phone model is at play with issues that folks see.

[jmsait19]

Originally Posted by xUKHCx

Dropped calls what are they? Seriously haven't had one of those for about 3 years. How bad is/are the american coverage/service providers.

Correct me if I am wrong, but dropped calls are when you are in the middle of a call and it suddenly just falls out from underneath you. I've always been on cingular, so maybe I don't experience this much, plus I don't go into rurals areas much.

However, Cingular doesn't let you make a call in the first place unless you have tremendous signal. Maybe that is why they have the fewest drops..

[SeanMcg]

Originally Posted by alec

What planet do I live on where Cingular gets to claim having the least dropped calls? Seriously, their service is atrocious.

I don't have Cingular/AT&T, but I have always wondered where the claim came from.

Wikipedia has a section that explains the claim. Read the entry for yourself, but when it comes down to it, they shouldn't really be claiming that the results from A certain time period apply to their entire service, all the time, at least as I interpret it.

Another link http://www.telephia.com

As for dropped calls, the only time I get those is when I get into a housing development that won't allow cellular repeaters of any type. These are the same people who won't prune trees and then wail and moan when a hurricane comes through, knocking down old, dead growth and crushing power and phone lines, cars and houses. (Sorry to go OT)

[Digital Skunk]

Okay... just wake me up for some real rumors... not this iPhone AT&T crap still.

Where is my full screen iPod rumors?

(-_-) Wake me when they arrive.

[Bunsen]

Originally Posted by aricher

It seems Cingular/AT&T's service varies from place to place and device to device. I had a moto phone and had tons of dropped calls in the Chicago area. Bought a Nokia - problem solved, I have not experienced one dropped call in over a year anywhere I've gone including overseas. What kind of phone do you have with Cingular/AT&T and where are you using it?

I agree! I've had AT&T wireless -> Cingular -> New AT&T for years now with a Sony Ericsson T635, and have had really great service in the Orlando area, as well as travelling. (and I travel a lot for business) Meanwhile, my friends are constantly complaining about their Verizon and Sprint phones.
Yeah, I know it's an ancient phone, but I've been waiting for an Apple phone ever since there were mere hopes that one would be released .

[Digital Skunk]

Originally Posted by jmsait19

Correct me if I am wrong, but dropped calls are when you are in the middle of a call and it suddenly just falls out from underneath you. I've always been on cingular, so maybe I don't experience this much, plus I don't go into rurals areas much.

However, Cingular doesn't let you make a call in the first place unless you have tremendous signal. Maybe that is why they have the fewest drops..

I don't think they have the fewest dropped calls... they are just okay... I have had Sprint for almost 3 years and I have never had a dropped call... EVER.

My LG phone sucks and drops my call and looses signals, but my girlfriends Treo has never had that problem however and has never had dropped calls. So where the hell does Cingular get that claim from. Good coverage is good coverage. Besides, with Sprint I can make a call and send SMS text even it I have only a single bar.

[Digital Skunk]

Originally Posted by Bunsen

I agree! I've had AT&T wireless -> Cingular -> New AT&T for years now with a Sony Ericsson T635, and have had really great service in the Orlando area, as well as travelling. (and I travel a lot for business) Meanwhile, my friends are constantly complaining about their Verizon and Sprint phones.
Yeah, I know it's an ancient phone, but I've been waiting for an Apple phone ever since there were mere hopes that one would be released .

So are they complaining about the phones or the service provider... if it is the phones then it is not Verizon's or Sprint's fault... tell your friends to get better phones... Like me... and never buy an LG phone... EVER!

[bdemers]

The thing about Cingular/ AT&T service is that it is GSM, rather than Verizon's CDMA.

Talk to anyone in the city, big-business types, they are nearly all on Verizon (at least in Boston). Get out of the city, hit the wide open spaces, Cingular/AT&T can't be beat.

The two types of technologies are better suited for different locations. GSM just doesn't seem to penetrate large buildings like CDMA does. On the other hand, hit up a state like Texas, and you've got five bars on GSM in every little nook and cranny of the state (and Texas is a big state).

In that sense, it's smart to choose based on where you live/work.

I, too, have experienced differences between cell-phone brands. I started out with a Motorola on GSM, and when indoors, could not keep a conversation. Sometimes, 35 dropped calls in one evening conversation (once per minute). Swapped it out for a Nokia, and that number is dramatically reduced (0 to 2 dropped an evening).

[BobbyDigital]

Originally Posted by Digital Skunk

I don't think they have the fewest dropped calls... they are just okay... I have had Sprint for almost 3 years and I have never had a dropped call... EVER.

I have Sprint. I get dropped calls EVERY DAY. Its because I live in a rural area. I travel around the country alot, and when I do, my phone works great most of the time.

Let me just say, I hate when people argue over cell phone providers based on reception. I think they all suck equally as much. They all drop calls. Some cell phone providers are better in certain locations than others.... but in general, they ALL suck.

[hooch]

Originally Posted by jmsait19

Correct me if I am wrong, but dropped calls are when you are in the middle of a call and it suddenly just falls out from underneath you. I've always been on cingular, so maybe I don't experience this much, plus I don't go into rurals areas much.

However, Cingular doesn't let you make a call in the first place unless you have tremendous signal. Maybe that is why they have the fewest drops..

This is wrong...I live in the Chicago and I get dropped calls all the time. Also, I can still make calls with 1 bar. It drops in a short time, but there is nothing tremendous about that signal strength.

Also, I have gone to a Cingular store to complain about it. One store told me that I need an a-alpha card simm card (I have a 3g at the moment). Another store didn't know anything about the a-alpha. Has anybody heard of this? Does it work? I have a Treo 650 by the way...

[EagerDragon]

This makes sense. If you look at the FCC filling, Apple is running the radio with very low power. So sometimes it will need to crank it up. The composition of the case or areas of the case and the position of the anttenas may allow them to run it at low power most of the time, thereby saving on the cancer cases and the deformed children, LOL.

[Small White Car]

Originally Posted by jholzner

What's with the smarta** strike-throughs in the article? Doesn't seem appropriate even if you don't like ATT.

To me, it indicates that they are talking about At&T which, in previous iPhone articles on this site, has been called Cingular. It is simply letting me know that it's the company changing their name, not the iPhone changing companies.

What doest that have to do with liking or not liking AT&T?
How is it a "smarta**" thing to do?
Do other typographical things indicate other things? Does using bold text mean I now love T-Mobile?

[twoodcc]

sounds like a good thing to me

[thejadedmonkey]

Originally Posted by xUKHCx

Dropped calls what are they? Seriously haven't had one of those for about 3 years. How bad is/are the american coverage/service providers.

Except for a few areas where there's no coverage in my area, I've never had a dropped call. My name is Drew and I use Cingular.

Ok, so basically coverage in the USA is pretty damn bad, but overall I think it's more to do with the phone then it had to do with the carrier.

[SeanMcg]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

To me, it indicates that they are talking about At&T which, in previous iPhone articles on this site, has been called Cingular. It is simply letting me know that it's the company changing their name, not the iPhone changing companies.

What doest that have to do with liking or not liking AT&T?
How is it a "smarta**" thing to do?
Do other typographical things indicate other things? Does using bold text mean I now love T-Mobile?

NOTE: I just noticed that post has been changed to remove the second strikeout, but it should still be corrected to say "fewest" instead of "least." Adjectives and adverbs....

If it were just the Cingular/AT&T reference, that would be one thing, but using the technique a second time in reference to the dropped calls makes it a "smarta**thing to do."

I'm glad to see it's been fixed.