What types of connection problems does Apple plan to fix for the iPhone 3G?
Apple has released an iPhone software update it says improves communication between the smart phone and wireless networks. The iPhone 3G, which went on sale July 11, connects to cellular providers’ speedier third-generation networks and was meant to deliver snappier Web surfing and online video viewing than the year-old original model. But some customers who shelled out for Apple’s newest gizmo flocked to message boards in recent weeks, posting complaints about dropped calls and spotty wireless broadband connectivity. Apple did not acknowledge a problem until Tuesday, and then provided few specifics about what, exactly, Monday evening’s software update was designed to fix. The iPhone 2.0.2 software update “improved communication with 3G networks,” said Apple spokeswoman Jennifer Bowcock. Bowcock would not say which of the many possible parts – from the iPhone’s antenna and amplifier and the radio frequency transceiver, to the baseband that processes the digital signal and sends it to t
After his third iPhone 3G continued to cut him off in the middle of his conversations, Ryan Shaw had seen enough. “The phone was a disappointment from the standpoint that it couldn’t maintain a consistent connection with the 3G network…All the other features were fantastic,” said Shaw, a sales professional living in a Cleveland suburb. But those other features weren’t enough to prevent him from returning to Verizon and the BlackBerry after deciding the hassle just wasn’t worth it. Widespread complaints about the iPhone 3G’s reception have spread across the Internet in the month since Apple and AT&T released the successor to the original iPhone. The companies insist that nothing is wrong, but the complaints have been mounting through e-mails, water-cooler discussions, and message boards on Apple’s own Web site: iPhone 3G users are having trouble connecting, and staying connected, to the 3G networks in their areas (Credit: Apple) Users say the iPhone 3G will switch between 3G networks
