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iPhone 3G Connectivity Affecting 2% of Customers? Software Fix Soon?

It is definitely affecting my phone. While it is not dropping calls, the 3G signal strength seems very weak in a lot of areas, and almost 100% of the time I get an annoying echo-feed back effect when making or receiving calls on the 3G network. I am patiently waiting for all the little bugs to get ironed out.
 
"2%"? Just another false advertisement like "more bars in more places"

100% of the iPhone users that I know are impacted by this issue (I'm in Chicago). As others have implied in this post, I seem to know a significant portion of this mythical 2%. Balls up already Steve and just admit that you guys screwed up. We'll all be much more forgiving of the truth than we will be of this secrecy.
 
shervieux said:
I agree with you. the iphone is getting too much reports lately. There are alot of other products that rival the iphone nicely, once you get everything hooked up (Palm Centro, Sprint's new SamSung -which is starting to come out on other networks, etc).

I know the iphone is new and still in its infancey (as compared to say mac's). I know the iphone brought many new apple customers, change the way we look at smart phones, but come on. mac was their core business and where they stand to keep and make customers.

all the iphone news hurts Apple and their stock. I know people who laugh at apple just because of the iphone and mobile me issues. They don't want to hear how great the mac line ups are.

I was talking to a guy in Wal-mart who was looking at a new computer, because his current Vista computer was giving him problems. :confused: Although, I should not be confused as MS marketing Vista Sp1 as Mohave in their commercials - so now people are looking to buy new machines (thinking they are getting a new OS) rather than just downloading sp1 (but that is another rant for another day). Anyway, I told the guy:

1. If you do not want issues, and want ease of use - I would go with mac.
2. But, if you really want to stay with Windows. Stay away from Dell, Compaq was bought out by HP, so compaq is the "economy" and not so well supported machines. Same with these other models you are looking at, "e-machines became gateway, and gateway is now Acer". Funny Walmart still has all these sub-brands on thiers shelves and tells people they are actually different computer companies.

Anyway he said "yeah, I am looking at computer because of my vista issues, I only need to have a few photos, maybe a couple of songs, and a few games for when the 5 year old grand kids come over. Maybe do a little something with home videos of kids growing up." I really do not care about keybord, mouse or monitor- I could just use what I have. They have that flat plug (think they call it USB) rather than the round one:p - Ok, you have to understand something - the guy was probably pushing 60, from the country, and really did not use computers much.. :rolleyes: I told him to drive the hr and get himself a mini. He then asked "Apple, does it run the same as that iphone thing. I mean I do not want the same problems as I am having with Vista. I was told by someone else I should get Mohave". when I explained what Windows was trying to do with the Mohave, he just shook his head and said "thanks for the info." Then he started asking, "what do I need for ram (actually what is ram, is it the same as they list here as memory), what do you think of hard drive" I told him head to Durham, go to streets of southpoint and talk to an apple rep. they will go over everything with you, show you how to use it, and get you the exact machine for your needs in all about an hour. With the hour drive there, and hour in the store, and an hour's drive back - you will have the perfect machine for your needs; not just an off-the-shelf walmart special that will give you more problems or questions. I also told him buying a new non-apple computer, you would also have the following other issues:

1. HP, Acer, E-machines, toshiba, and Gateway will not give you your OS disks - you must make your own and are allowed only to do it once, so if it screws up; you will have to pay for new disks.

2. Dell will give you a restore disk, but it may or maynot work.

I saw him a little later on leaving without a computer.

I am happy to spread the word about Apple's other products - but when people start saying no because of the iphone issues; then that starts an hours discusion on how the iphone is not a mac, and not a real computer. it is just a glorified smart phone and a mac computer does not have the same problems.
Click to expand...

Why are we talking about Macs on an IPhone forum? Many of us are interested in Macs...I am as I have an IMac, but I don't expect to have a Mac discussion in an IPhone forum.
 
It's like a lottery with Apple.

Now everyone with a 3G iPhone is hoping they're among the lucky 2% who's problems Apple will supposedly address :rolleyes:
 
This is obvious BS. I have At&t, but no iPhone. I have 3 At&t phones and they all started having problems at the same time. And ever since May it's been nothing but dropped calls and failed attempts to connect. These problems amplified after the iPhone launch.
 
Mine is working great after they replaced my phone, no software update needed, so I suspect it might be hardware and not just software. :)
 
count me in the 2%, just today dropped 5 calls and 4 calls failed!; this is my second iphone.
hope for an update soon:(
 
Its strange because my 3G iPhone worked fine, until I took a trip out of state. When I returned, the phone has been acting very strange. Each call out takes 2 or 3 tries, lots of dropped calls and periods of "No service" when I had full signal a few seconds prior. (Standing on the street, not in a car or anything)

I did realize though that 3G in Vegas _REALLY_ sucks. My EVDO card ran laps around it. I couldn't use my iPhone inside any of the hotels I went into.

I hope they release a fix soon.
 
Perhaps the 2% doesn't mean that a random 2% of iPhones are defective, but that most iPhones when in busy urban areas have problems, which comprises 2% of all iPhones. Thus anyone with problems would be likely to continue to have problems with replacement phones, and would be likely to know many others who have the same problems -- while not disproving the "2%" claim.
 
maknik said:
Perhaps the 2% doesn't mean that a random 2% of iPhones are defective, but that most iPhones when in busy urban areas have problems, which comprises 2% of all iPhones. Thus anyone with problems would be likely to continue to have problems with replacement phones, and would be likely to know many others who have the same problems -- while not disproving the "2%" claim.
Click to expand...

The email was interpreted wrong. He mean 92%, not 2%.

Either that, it is 2% of phones since only 2% of phones are in use at any given time. Another way of saying 100% of all phones in use are affected by the problem but only when you use the phone. If you leave it on your desk and turn it off, you don't experience the problem.
 
ha, 2%. problem is annoying. my new Nokia e71 is performing much better on AT&T then the multiple iPhone3Gs that I bought, exchanged etc. I still have the 3G and may just wait till the end of my 3rd 30 day return window just to see this "fix" for myself.

Worst reception ever. (Chicago area)
 
I see so many people posting with problems from the Chicago area and I am in full agreement. I'm from the Chicago area and my reception is terrible. Along with that, battey life isn't even half of what my first gen iPhone offered, and that's with 3g turned off for most of the day.

Couple that with the bugginess of 2.0x software and it has me considering other phones. I'd love to switch back to my old iPhone, but it would be a catch 22. The volume on that phone was terrible compaired to the new iPhone.

My gf just got a blackberry pearl. Flawless reception, fantastic messaging features, ringer customization, speakerphone volume, the list goes on and on. Sure it doesn't have the app store and a fantastic screen, but my list of needs are for a working phone with good txt and email, not a pretty looking paperweight that plays games good.

Everyday goes by, I come closer to getting a blackberry to get things done and selling my iPhone and older iPod in exchange for a iPod touch so I can keep using the cool, usefull apps I bought.
 
Several friends scattered across the country all experience the same 3G issues on the UK's O2 network. Twelve of us in the same office floor with iPhone 3Gs bought at different times, from different locations - all of us, bar none, have had to switch off 3G as it does not work at work, home or play.

Now this is nearer 100% in my experience - just a tad off from Steve's 2%.

Perhaps the UK got all the broken ones?

People! The truth is easy enough for the mobile network operators to tell Apple all about. They know which IMEI are 3G handsets. All they need do is report how many iPhone 3G are on 2G and how long for (i.e. temporarily, permanently etc...). This is all well within the capability of the mobile operators. I think that Apple (and O2) know exactly how widespread this issue is. But they certainly will not be letting on.
 
I always lose my signal when I'm sitting on the can.

"I'm sorry sir, but this iPhone has been flagged." :p
 
Numerical Rhetoric

2% is silly. How would the Powers That Be know "2%." Its just a piece of numerical rhetoric that suggests, "This is just a wee little problem. YOU are probably not affected. Go on, go back outside and play with your iphones like good little boys and girls." Those short messages from "Steve" seem to me to be a quick pat on the head, a band-aid on the owie, and sometimes a lollipop to try to make it all better.

I do find the rhetoric interesting, considering the MobileMe debacle utilized the 1% figure.

Personally, I rarely see 3G on my phone. I live in both Berkeley, CA and the Central Valley of California--both areas, according to the ATT map, have 3G coverage. 3G is, for me, completely elusive in Berkeley. In Bakersfield, however, I do see it come and go, but it never sticks around very much.

I love the phone--much improved over my old Razr V3. Still, I find it sad that Apple seems to have become more focused on advertising and hype, than the quality of its final products.
 
bzen said:
Personally, I rarely see 3G on my phone. I live in both Berkeley, CA and the Central Valley of California--both areas, according to the ATT map, have 3G coverage. 3G is, for me, completely elusive in Berkeley. In Bakersfield, however, I do see it come and go, but it never sticks around very much.
QUOTE]

That's depressing. :( I'm in Bakersfield too and wanted to upgrade to the 3g iphone. I used to get 3G coverage all the time with the original 3G blackjack. I switched to edge iphone (Edge is so damn slow here its ridiculous) I wonder why the iphone isn't getting the same coverage? Now I'm thinking the upgrade to 3G isn't worth it. :mad:
Click to expand...
 
TonicAngel said:
Now I'm thinking the upgrade to 3G isn't worth it. :mad:
Click to expand...

The way things are at the moment you would be correct, it isn't worth it. But if Apple can indeed fix the issue with their iPhone 3G such that it actually is capable of locating, attaching to and maintaining a 3G signal then the wait will have been worthwhile.

I remain to be convinced.
 
mrtune and others

i am also in the chicago area, i was really going to try and save for this iphone....except this product is turning out to be it seems as crappy as the Leopard OSX; one of you mentioned the focus should be on Mac's and yet look at all those who have had problems with Leopard or iLife08 or iWork08-I wanted to change to Leopard until I began to see so many with so many problems and now its this iPhone 3G......frankly say what you want, dump on me but I totally believe Jobs and his bunch don't give a DAMN about these problems...if he had given a damn about Leopard then wouldn't he have released it when and only when it had close to zero problems?? And having done that wouldn't he then have released iPhone only when it too had few problems and had let others at the same time offer iPhone 3G with others besides the crap AT&T? Across the board Apple products as a whole have lost quality and tech stability.
 
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