Apple on iPhone 4 antenna: only 0.55% complained, 1.7% returned
Steve Jobs, during the iPhone 4 press conference today, announced that despite very loud online and mainstream media attention being focused on iPhone antenna issues, only 0.55% of customers have complained to Apple, only 1.7% have returned their phones -- less than a third of the number who returned iPhone 3GS.
On dropped calls, Jobs admitted AT&T data is showing that iPhone 4 drops less than 1 call per hundred more than iPhone 3GS, but he thinks this is because iPhone 3GS owners already had iPhone 3G cases to use while iPhone 4 may have been used naked at first.
iPhone 3G cases fit iPhone 3GS, neither fit iPhone 4. So that comment may be truthy but is it true? How many put cases on iPhone 3GS immediately compared to iPhone 4?
Did you?
[Engadget]
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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I wouldn't have returned mine either.
At first I thought it said 55% and was like WTF?!?! Not a big deal?! Then I read it again....
Didn't return and didn't complain. I can definitely touch the antenna a certain way and make service drop but I have to actually want to make it happen- so it doesn't matter to me.
I also never used a case on my 3GS but got a bumper the day I got my 4. Not for reception issues, just to help protect the phone.
But- if Apple says that they have a fix for the antenna issue - I will definitely bring it in no matter what!
I use my 3GS case and it fits great. I will keep it.
But how does he know that everyone that did have a problem did call AppleCare? I have the death grip issue and I didn't call AppleCare because the problem was out in the open and big already.
And on the returns. Of course there's less returns! People were waiting to see if the problem will get fix but Steve Jobs might see a lot of returns in the coming weeks see that he's making people cover their phones with a case in order to work better.
With the dropped calls, it is that the iPhone 4 drops 1 more call per 100 calls than the 3Gs (ie, 10 for the 3Gs, and 11 for the iPhone), or is it that for every 100 dropped calls of the iPhone 3Gs, the iPhone 4 would drop 101?
And Im glad Steve pretty much affirmed everything Ive been saying. I got a bumper for protection too.... now just have to figure out how to get my refund!
I bought a cheap $20 Griffin case from Wal-Mart to solve this issue. Rubber bumper and a clear plastic back to protect the beautiful finish of this device. Problem solved. I've only had the antenna issue once; and that's because I was trying to make it happen. I'm not worried.
Ok hold on line for 25min just to hear crap from AppleCare that we already know!
The quote was that the iPone 4 had more dropped calls per 100 calls, but it was less than 1 more. Not 1 more.
For return rates and AppleCare tickets percentages, you can't say that people did report or return anything the iPhone 4 because the problem was out in the open or they were waiting on a fix, thus that's why iPhone 4 statistics were better than iPhone 3GS statistics. The same can be said for various 3GS things. People could have not reported their 3GS issues either.
If you want to make an impact, call AppleCare and or return your iPhone 4.
Mine works fine.
I'm good. My phone is perfect.
I hate the other phone users who are making a big deal, it's almost them making them selves feel better for not having an iPhone.
A coworker of mine posted on her Facebood "apple confrence today, hopefully they'll recall that sucker!" mind you, she uses a black berry. What's it to her.
I used a case asap when I got the 3GS. Haven't even thought to buy one for the 4G b/c I love the design. I love the 4G and haven't had any issues that are new from previous iPhones. I don't think Apple is screwing us.
I haven't reported the drop call prob to Apple since they were well aware of it. Will have to now so they get a better indication of the breadth of the impact.
Temporarily using my 3GS case which works fine. Only need to remove it when flash is needed for a picture.
Tried my 3GS today. Man does that screen look blurry in comparison. Don't think I could go back to using it; have to zoom to read most things.
Let's say the iPhone 3G drops about 1.23 calls in 100. If iPhone 4 drops 2.1 calls in 100, it is still technically an increase of "less than one per 100"- but it is still almost double the number of calls dropped!
Numerical witchery!
Steve Jobs: 0.55% of users have called about reception problems, the other 99.45% dropped the call.
"How many put cases on iPhone 3GS immediately compared to iPhone 4? Did you?"
This makes sense since there were tons of cases that fit the 3GS when it came out because of the 3G. The iPhone 4 had almost no cases on launch (and is still pretty true today). I know because I wasn't about to carry my phone without one.
I am very happy with my phone (as is every iPhone 4 owner) and don't really know what all the noise is about.
interestingly enough, those of you who say you have "no problems" with the phone.. maybe it's just that you are in an area with good reception. I can replicate the signal bars and I have dropped multiple calls at my house in los angeles. but the past weekend I was in las vegas and had full strength the entire time, and I could not replicate the signal bar decrease to show my friends if i tried. got back home, the problem comes back.
I wonder what the return rate to Apple stores has been, compared to the 3GS. I find it interesting that they chose to use AT&T's data, especially when one considers that the majority of users presumably purchased their phones through Apple's retail channels. Could one return their unit to an AT&T store if they purchased it through Apple?
That number is about to go up because since the update each and every one of my calls dropped.
I'm very close to giving up on this phone. It's about to become an expensive iPod Touch or a REALLY expensive toy for my niece.
Not sure why they think everyone with the problem called in, hell not even every assault get called in and that's assault !!
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