iPhone 4 Drops Calls when Left Corner is Touched

My new theory is this is partly to do with poor reception, partly to do with the phone itself and iOS4 as well.

Based on evidence, logical reasoning would point to the following:

1) The issue exists.
2) Assuming Apple is honest, they would not knowingly release a product with an issue like this.

Therefore, they didn't know. OR at least, it was too late to stop the roll-out. Too many people test the device prior to release for this issue to have gone unnoticed. Therefore:

1) The reception at Cupertino is very, very good and no issue was apparent.
2) The pre-production units that were used for testing did not suffer from this issue.

Based on the evidence presented so far, I believe the issue involves cross interference between two external antennas, the overall reception strength in a given location, the iPhone 4 being extremely signal sensitive and iOS4 forcing/dropping calls due to it's 'perceived' lack of reception due to shorting caused by human cross interference.

Apple will fix iOS4 first. They will probably adjust how it handles signal loss. This MAY be all that is needed in the short run.

In the long run, the joint between the two antennas is poorly located. Yes, this should be considered a design flaw. If Apple releases another model, they would be served well to move the seam to another location.

Best I got, folks.
 
Im on the phone with Apple tech support now, going to see about possibly getting a replacement, but when I told the guy the problem with the signal, he said...

"Yea, we're being told that holding the phone by the sides interferes with the reception." I asked him "So how are you supposed to hold it?" He says "Im not sure, they haven't updated us yet."

He's now looking into the proximity sensor issue which is really the more important issue of the two.
 
N1CKOLAS said:
A (sarcastic) summary of this thread:

Phone don't work = hardware broke = RECAL!!!
Computer don't work = hardware broke? = recall...?

This logic simply does not work. I'm not denying that the problem COULD be hardware related
Click to expand...
Well, these "computer don't work" problems usually don't entail things like "the WiFi signal disappears when I type, but if I avoid touching the palmrest area, it works fine!".

The difference between the iPhone antenna issue and typical computer-related trouble like crashes, kernel panics and spinning beachballs is that this iPhone problem has e-lec-tri-ci-ty written all over it. It's understandable that people react differently to something like that.

Having said that, cellular telephony tech involves a whole lot more weird voodoo than people realize. Software, on both the phone end and the infrastructure end, handles more "engineery" tasks than they do on a computer, it's more like the software that handles various stuff in your car. Buggy software in a car would result in issues you would instinctively blame on mechanical faults.
 
LobsterDK said:
An infinite number of variables there certainly are not. There's really only a small handful of potential causes. This may just be a batch from a bad production run. Another possibility is software related. The 'new' method for making a connection (less congestion vs higher signal strength) may not be playing nice with the antenna is detuned while holding it. Software tweaks may be sufficient enough to fix the problem. The last option is that it's a massive screwup in the design and engineering. If it's the last one, that's really gonna suck.

EDIT: "but by taking a pro-active approach" .... uhhhm.. what?! What sort of pro-active approach do you expect people to take in order to fix Apple shipping defective phones?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have clarified, pro-active meaning testing the iPhone in a variety of different situations (location, case on/off, etc) to help the support person and engineers pin-point the problem.

I should also correct myself, I know there aren't an infinite number of variables, but there are many variables, each contributing to whether the phone is working or not. If you read my previous posts, I too suggested that it may be a firmware bug or even a hardware problem, it's just too early to decide that pressing the side of the phone = hardware problem like so many have declared.
 
Anuba said:
Well, these "computer don't work" problems usually don't entail things like "the WiFi signal disappears when I type, but if I avoid touching the palmrest area, it works fine!".

The difference between the iPhone antenna issue and typical computer-related trouble like crashes, kernel panics and spinning beachballs is that this iPhone problem has e-lec-tri-ci-ty written all over it. It's understandable that people react differently to something like that.

Having said that, cellular telephony tech involves a whole lot more weird voodoo than people realize. Software, on both the phone end and the infrastructure end, handles more "engineery" tasks than they do on a computer, it's more like the software that handles various stuff in your car. Buggy software in a car would result in issues you would instinctively blame on mechanical faults.
Click to expand...

Yup, that's exactly what I have said in previous posts.
 
jb007clone said:
My new theory is this is partly to do with poor reception, partly to do with the phone itself and iOS4 as well.

Based on evidence, logical reasoning would point to the following:

1) The issue exists.
2) Assuming Apple is honest, they would not knowingly release a product with an issue like this.

Therefore, they didn't know. OR at least, it was too late to stop the roll-out. Too many people test the device prior to release for this issue to have gone unnoticed. Therefore:

1) The reception at Cupertino is very, very good and no issue was apparent.
2) The pre-production units that were used for testing did not suffer from this issue.

Based on the evidence presented so far, I believe the issue involves cross interference between two external antennas, the overall reception strength in a given location, the iPhone 4 being extremely signal sensitive and iOS4 forcing/dropping calls due to it's 'perceived' lack of reception due to shorting caused by human cross interference.

Apple will fix iOS4 first. They will probably adjust how it handles signal loss. This MAY be all that is needed in the short run.

In the long run, the joint between the two antennas is poorly located. Yes, this should be considered a design flaw. If Apple releases another model, they would be served well to move the seam to another location.

Best I got, folks.
Click to expand...

I posted a couple of hours ago - I get the signal drop with a full 5-bar signal - not sure that the overall signal strength has too great an impact other than meaning people get cut off more easily when they start with a weaker signal in the first place.

Has anyone else noticed that they can hear the phone transmitting when they are making a call and they short the antennae? I made a call a minute ago and I could hear the bip-bip-bip bbbzzzzz noise that you sometimes hear when people have phones to close to microphones, but through the iphone itself, only when I shorted the antennae - definite nasty crosstalk.
 
I just got my first call... it was sitting on the floor. I wasn't holding it. I pick up the phone, and instantly the connection drops and the call fails after about .5 of a second. I then pull the phone away from my head to see the reception JUMP back up to full signal / 3G, just after the call fails. I then get a call back 5 seconds later and everything is fine. I'm really hoping this is software...
 
I called apple they did some troubleshooting then he transferred me to an engineering specialist he said it was a known issue and overnighted me another phone. I don't think ppl should cancel orders this just seems like a bad batch. I tried to get a free bumper but he didn't even know what it was.
 
ReflexReact said:
I just got my first call... it was sitting on the floor. I wasn't holding it. I pick up the phone, and instantly the connection drops and the call fails after about .5 of a second. I then pull the phone away from my head to see the reception JUMP back up to full signal / 3G, just after the call fails. I then get a call back 5 seconds later and everything is fine. I'm really hoping this is software...
Click to expand...

If it drops when you physically touch it then you will be hoping for nothing.
 
BlackZ said:
I had exactly the same but I will receive my new iPhone 4 by saturday and have to ship the old one back. They were very polite and told me Apple is aware of the issues. They didn't suggest me the Bumper or anything.
It should be resolved with the new one so we will see soon :).
Click to expand...

Yeah we'll see what happens. It's definitely more noticable in areas where coverage is a tad weaker already. I went outside and held it and no "bars" went down at all (full 5). Inside, I had five bars and held the phone like I normally would, and it drops to dead. Good luck with your new phone, hopefully it does the trick.
 
Darwing said:
To the people who are having the problem: this is a very VERY serious issue. The fact that apple didn't realize this in their testing baffles me. The notion of selling a phone that the phone function doesn't work or you have to turn off 3g!!!! Is truly insane! The engineers had to have seen this in the testing...

NOW to those who are dismissing this playing it off like "just turn 3g off" or "hold it differently" or the best yet "just enjoy your device till they come out with a fix" lol you guys have to be kidding me!!! They have every right to be pissed off and upset, nothing dismissive about this problem should occure, apple has been the proponent of "it just works" campaign and this just "doesn't " work!
Click to expand...

Indeed. It's a bit like buying a car that runs fine when you aren't in it. But as soon as you hop in the driver's seat the engine shuts off. I imagine the recommended solution to that would be to hop on the hood, throw a brick on the accelerator, and reach in through the window to steer. I mean, at least are getting to enjoy your new car for now. :D
 
I called apple support about losing signal and they said that it is a known issue. I am now getting a bumper for free.
 
ReflexReact said:
I just got my first call... it was sitting on the floor. I wasn't holding it. I pick up the phone, and instantly the connection drops and the call fails after about .5 of a second. I then pull the phone away from my head to see the reception JUMP back up to full signal / 3G, just after the call fails. I then get a call back 5 seconds later and everything is fine. I'm really hoping this is software...
Click to expand...

This isn't a software or hardware issue. Your body produces a electrical current that can disrupt electronics, and with every person the amount of current is different. That is why when you use a case it doesn't happen.

The only thing they can do is redesign the iphone, but do not hold your breath. just opt for a case to keep your skin off the antenna.
 
speendle said:
...not sure that the overall signal strength has too great an impact other than meaning people get cut off more easily when they start with a weaker signal in the first place.
Click to expand...

That is correct. While it is definitely possibly to experience the issue with a full signal, people who have less than stellar reception in their area to begin with are more apt to experience the problem. Vice versa is also apparent; that is to say that if you have really good reception where you live, you may not experience the issue at all. We know this based on anecdotal evidence.
 
madmax_2069 said:
This isn't a software or hardware issue. Your body produces a electrical current that can disrupt electronics, and with every person the amount of current is different. That is why when you use a case it doesn't happen.
Click to expand...

The sheer fact that the phone is so greatly affected by your body's electrical current MAKES it a hardware issue. If the phone got really amazing reception and never lost a bar wouldn't you attribute that to outstanding hardware? It works both ways.
 
madmax_2069 said:
This isn't a software or hardware issue. Your body produces a electrical current that can disrupt electronics, and with every person the amount of current is different. That is why when you use a case it doesn't happen.

The only thing they can do is redesign the iphone, but do not hold your breath. just opt for a case to keep your skin off the antenna.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, you'd know! You'd know for definate that there is no issue with the iOS4 and it's handling of varying signals.

To be honest, you have no idea, just like the rest of us. The issue COULD be related to the way that the software is handling drops / changes in signal, caused by the electrical current you talk of. There's nothing to suggest that this isn't a valid and sensible theory, specially considering the fact that Apple have already acknowledged bugs regarding the reporting of signal. Combine this with VERY odd behavour, as has been reported, and it's perfectly possible.

Oh wait, no, you know what an electrical current is, so please go ahead and patronise left right and centre.
 
ReflexReact said:
Ah yes, you'd know! You'd know for definate that there is no issue with the iOS4 and it's handling of varying signals.

To be honest, you have no idea, just like the rest of us. The issue COULD be related to the way that the software is handling drops / changes in signal, caused by the electrical current you talk of. There's nothing to suggest that this isn't a valid and sensible theory, specially considering the fact that Apple have already acknowledged bugs regarding the reporting of signal. Combine this with VERY odd behavour, as has been reported, and it's perfectly possible.

Oh wait, no, you know what an electrical current is, so please go ahead and patronise left right and centre.
Click to expand...

im sorry but the guy your talking about is right haha, i work in electronics for a living and to be honest theres about 0.1% chance this is going to be a software fault.....

maybe if you ground yourself say to a radiator in your house ? and try this ? anyone done that ?

the hardware is too sensitive and to be honest apple knew about this thats why they released the bumper. think about it,

if mine gets deliverd next week and i get the same problems, its going back and im having a refund.

£600 on a product that doesnt work, haha f' that
 
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