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Antenna issues causing iPhone owners to rethink upgrade?

updated 05:40 pm EDT, Thu July 22, 2010

Customers said to be spooked by reports


Many current iPhone owners may be apprehensive to upgrade their handset to the new iPhone 4 due to the antenna issue, according to research firm IDC. The group conducted a survey, which found that 66 percent of current iPhone owners will hold back from purchasing the latest device because of its apparent reception problem.

IDC analyst Will Stofega suggests that most of the surveyed individuals are still committed to the iPhone platform. Those who fall into waiting category are merely extending the upgrade cycle rather than dropping the iPhone altogether.

Apple has still touted the iPhone 4 launch as the company's most successful iPhone launch to date. The IDC survey indicates that customers new to the iPhone are much less likely to be affected by the negative reports. Of those who intend to buy an iPhone, but do not own one, 74 percent of respondents claim the antenna issue would not affect their purchasing decision. [via Computerworld]


by MacNN Staff

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  1. graxspoo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    +4
    07/22, 06:41pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    I'm waiting

    Free bumpers until September? Well, what happens in September? I don't really want a broken phone; I already have one. (my original iPhone has lost its ability to sense touch on the lower 1/4 inch of the screen... I can get most things to work one way or another, but its annoying).
    My guess is Apple is going to issue an "iPhone 4, rev2" that fixes the antenna bridging issue.

  1. Gazoobee

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2009

    +2
    07/22, 06:57pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    crazy

    I just flat out don't believe this statistic. 66% of iPhone users waiting sounds ridiculous next to the sales figures we've been seeing. Also if, as AT&T has said 27% of their sales are new users, then 73% would be upgraders right?

    Also, @graxspoo above ... if iPhone 4 is hardware upgraded or revisioned to a "fixed" version, they will surely have to offer a free upgrade path for the whiners, so I don't think it will be. Any "fix" in September would likely involve some hocus pocus with the firmware, or it will be a so-called "transparent recall" that we won't know about at all.

  1. WindowtotheMagic

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2010

    +4
    07/22, 07:01pm | report spam | Reply |

    The numbers say it all...

    Maybe a few are waiting, but not many... I sure didn't.

    Poor Apple... ONLY 3+ MILLION iPhone4's sold so far. That must really bum them out. NOT!

  1. graxspoo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    -2
    07/22, 07:24pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    It needs a hardware fix

    If you hold the thing without a bumper, your sweaty hands can short out the two antennas. The "fix" for the rev1 "early adopters" is to give them free bumpers. The fix in September could easily be to add a thin coating around the metal, or cover the metal with plastic. Personally, I would rather not have a bumper on my phone.

    Yes, there are plenty of early adopters, but the people who are waiting don't figure into these numbers. Also lots of people bought before the antenna issue broke as major news.
    I'll wait until September and make up my mind. I don't like the multi-tasking implementation either (There's no quick way to 'quit' an app. The task list gets cluttered.) So, maybe I'll go Droid.

    This bad PR does bum Apple out. If you don't think so, then you don't know Apple. ;-)

  1. Herod

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2007

    0
    07/22, 08:10pm | report spam | Reply |

    i wouldnt be surprised

    if it was an option to order a phone with a protective covering or not, similar to the anti-glare macbooks or something. i dont think they will update the hardware too much by september.

  1. russellb

    Junior Member

    Joined: Sep 2001

    +4
    07/22, 09:51pm | report spam | Reply |

    Horse c***

    I dont believe that 66% in a pink fit .... what a load of c***

  1. coitus

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2000

    -2
    07/22, 11:02pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Crappy for calls, great for everything else...

    I upgraded from my iPhone 3G and everything about the phone is kick-a**...

    Except I can't use the phone for actual voice calls...which is rather ironic. That being said, my 3G dropped a plethora of calls as well. With either phone, any phone call lasting over 5-mins would drop upwards of 80% of the time.

    I put the blame at the feet of both Apple and ATT. So far, the case I purchased hasn't decreased my call drop rate AT ALL. Go figure...but great phone for everything else.

  1. JuanGuapo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2008

    +4
    07/22, 11:14pm | report spam | Reply |

    Love mine.

    I asked two of my buddies who each picked up iPhone 4s and they both said they were great, no issues. I waited until this week to get it, picked up two of them for the wife and I. No issues, works beautifully. The reception is better in areas that the 3G didn't (Los Angeles area).

    As far as the "death grip" that they're talking about, is really a non issue unless you are in an area with really poor reception. I've not been able to drop a call on it while leaving my hand over the black band. My wife "gripped" hers while we were driving down the 605 freeway and it didn't lose signal except a few bars.

    I love the phone, it's a shame people are crabbing such a nice thing.

  1. DA360

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2009

    +2
    07/23, 05:22am | report spam | Reply |

    Still Beatin' that Dead Horse...

    ...Even though now its nothing but bones and the maggots have even left it.

    I bet the majority (if not vast majority) of actual iPhone 4 owners don't have a problem with normal day-to-day use with the iPhone 4. Its the few, or those wanting attention, doing all the complaining, as well as those who don't even own an iPhone 4 wanting to poke-fun.

    I've owned one since launch and I've have no issues what-so-ever with it, no dropped calls so far here in Cincinnati. I love it so far, its a major upgrade from my old 3GS. My friend is loving my old 3GS, which he upgraded from a Blackberry Pearl Flip that was giving him a ton of issues.

  1. DA360

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2009

    +1
    07/23, 05:27am | report spam | Reply |

    66% of what number?

    Sorry for the double comment.
    But, I notice a major flaw in this percentage. They never mention how many people they surveyed. It could be a pretty small number.

    This is why I never trust percentages. It doesn't matter what it is, unless its a VERY large number (10,000+ ). What makes them more trustable is saying "40% of 500 people surveyed say..."

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