http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1294884/Apple-recall-iPhone-4-signal-problems.html
Is Apple about to recall iPhone 4 over signal problems? Firm calls surprise press conference
Last updated at 12:58 PM on 15th July 2010
Apple has called a surprise press conference about the iPhone 4 sparking rumours that it is about to issue a recall of the device.
The new iPhone has been plagued by complaints about poor reception with many users finding that it loses signal when held in a certain way.
Now Apple has invited a select group of journalists to a press conference at its base in Cupertino, California on Friday and will only confirm that it will be to talk about iPhone 4.
Apple has faced mounting criticism from analysts and consumers over its handling of complaints about the reception issues on the newest iPhone, which was launched last month.
Analysts say Apple has created a public relations headache for itself by appearing to dismiss or ignore the problem, allowing a minor issue to be turned into headline news.
Although most analysts believe a recall of the device is unlikely, a growing number have urged Apple to resolve the matter, perhaps by offering free iPhone cases, which appear to solve the problem.
Jason Jenkins, Editor of CNET, said: 'There is clearly a problem with the iPhone 4. We know it, Apple knows it, everyone knows it.
'If you hold the phone in a certain way at the bottom left corner, reception is reduced. It's doubtful that a software fix will solve things -- it's a fundamental issue with the design of the phone.
'But does this necessitate a recall? No. It's not that big a deal.'
On Tuesday Apple's shares plunged by more than four percent after an influential guide gave the new iPhone 4 a poor review, wiping £6.5 billion off the firm's value.
The fall came after Consumer Reports, a US group similar to Which? in the UK, said it could not recommend the iPhone 4 after its tests confirmed concerns about signal loss when the device is held in a certain way.
Consumer Reports, which publishes guides on everything from cars to TVs, said that it had also tested other phones - including the iPhone 3GS - and found none had the signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4.
It added that AT&T, the exclusive mobile phone carrier for the iPhone 4 and whose network is often blamed for reception problems, was not necessarily the main culprit.
The review said: 'When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side—an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4.'
The iPhone 4 still achieved a respectably high score due to its impressive display, front-facing video camera and improved battery life but it did not make it onto Consumer Reports' influential list of recommended phones.
And the site' adds: 'Apple needs to come up with a permanent – and free – fix for the antenna problems before we can recommend the iPhone 4.'
It even suggested that the only way to get around the problem was to cover the bottom of the phone in duct tape. And the site suggests the older model, the iPhone 3G, is still the better buy.
Apple came in for more criticism for deleting comments on its user-support forums which discussed the negative review.
The company has said all mobile phones suffer some signal loss when held in different ways, and suggested that a software glitch might have misled users by overstating signal strength.
Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst pointed to speculation that Consumer Reports' article might induce a recall.
Apple shares dipped below their 50-day moving average price of $256.26, sliding as much as 4.2 percent to $246.43.
Shares of Research in Motion, which makes the rival Blackberry, climbed 2.7 percent to $57.42.
Is Apple about to recall iPhone 4 over signal problems? Firm calls surprise press conference
Last updated at 12:58 PM on 15th July 2010
Apple has called a surprise press conference about the iPhone 4 sparking rumours that it is about to issue a recall of the device.
The new iPhone has been plagued by complaints about poor reception with many users finding that it loses signal when held in a certain way.
Now Apple has invited a select group of journalists to a press conference at its base in Cupertino, California on Friday and will only confirm that it will be to talk about iPhone 4.
Apple has faced mounting criticism from analysts and consumers over its handling of complaints about the reception issues on the newest iPhone, which was launched last month.
Analysts say Apple has created a public relations headache for itself by appearing to dismiss or ignore the problem, allowing a minor issue to be turned into headline news.
Although most analysts believe a recall of the device is unlikely, a growing number have urged Apple to resolve the matter, perhaps by offering free iPhone cases, which appear to solve the problem.
Jason Jenkins, Editor of CNET, said: 'There is clearly a problem with the iPhone 4. We know it, Apple knows it, everyone knows it.
'If you hold the phone in a certain way at the bottom left corner, reception is reduced. It's doubtful that a software fix will solve things -- it's a fundamental issue with the design of the phone.
'But does this necessitate a recall? No. It's not that big a deal.'
On Tuesday Apple's shares plunged by more than four percent after an influential guide gave the new iPhone 4 a poor review, wiping £6.5 billion off the firm's value.
The fall came after Consumer Reports, a US group similar to Which? in the UK, said it could not recommend the iPhone 4 after its tests confirmed concerns about signal loss when the device is held in a certain way.
Consumer Reports, which publishes guides on everything from cars to TVs, said that it had also tested other phones - including the iPhone 3GS - and found none had the signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4.
It added that AT&T, the exclusive mobile phone carrier for the iPhone 4 and whose network is often blamed for reception problems, was not necessarily the main culprit.
The review said: 'When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side—an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4.'
The iPhone 4 still achieved a respectably high score due to its impressive display, front-facing video camera and improved battery life but it did not make it onto Consumer Reports' influential list of recommended phones.
And the site' adds: 'Apple needs to come up with a permanent – and free – fix for the antenna problems before we can recommend the iPhone 4.'
It even suggested that the only way to get around the problem was to cover the bottom of the phone in duct tape. And the site suggests the older model, the iPhone 3G, is still the better buy.
Apple came in for more criticism for deleting comments on its user-support forums which discussed the negative review.
The company has said all mobile phones suffer some signal loss when held in different ways, and suggested that a software glitch might have misled users by overstating signal strength.
Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst pointed to speculation that Consumer Reports' article might induce a recall.
Apple shares dipped below their 50-day moving average price of $256.26, sliding as much as 4.2 percent to $246.43.
Shares of Research in Motion, which makes the rival Blackberry, climbed 2.7 percent to $57.42.
