Apple Engineer Told Jobs IPhone Antenna Might Cut Calls
July 15 -- Apple Inc.s senior antenna expert voiced concern to Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs in the early design phase of the iPhone 4 that the antenna design could lead to dropped calls, a person familiar with the matter said.
Last year, Ruben Caballero, a senior engineer and antenna expert, informed Apples management the devices design may hurt reception, said the person, who is not authorized to speak on Apples behalf and asked not to be identified. A carrier partner also raised concerns about the antenna before the devices June 24 release, according to another person familiar with the situation.
The latest model of the iPhone carries a metal antenna that surrounds the outside of the device -- a design chosen by Apple executives because it yielded a lighter, thinner handset. It has also resulted in dropped or degraded calls that led Consumer Reports to refrain from endorsing the iPhone 4, weighed on the companys stock and stepped up pressure on Apple to issue a fix.
Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, declined to comment and said he wouldnt make Caballero available for an interview. Caballero didnt respond to a call and an e-mail seeking comment.
Bloomberg News