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Fix may be in the works for flawed iPhone 3G, but can it mend Apple's broken fences?

Yesterday, DailyTech reported that some iPhone 3G users were experiencing below average call quality and that the 3G service was effectively broken in many areas. However, Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T's wireless unit commented, "Overall, the new iPhone is performing just great on our 3G network."

It appears, though, that Apple and AT&T may soon have to address 3G issues publically as two separate internal sources at Apple and an independent analysis have seemingly confirmed there is a major problem, and Apple has a software fix in the works which may help.

First up is an independent analysis by Ny Teknik, Sweden's foremost engineering weekly, which obtained test documents from unknown sources, which indicated the iPhone was well below specified standards for 3G.  The International Telecommunication Union, a Geneva-based organization, sets and enforces strict standards about the quality associated with products using the 3G moniker.  The deficient 3G iPhone appears to have slipped through the cracks.

According to Ny Teknik’s obtained test report, adjustments between the antenna and an amplifier, which capture the faint signals received by the antenna, are defective.  This makes the phone likely to drop calls and have slower than hoped data speeds.

Next, two unnamed sources with Apple told BusinessWeek  that the Infineon chipset inside the phone is the root of the 3G problems, and that Apple will issue a fix to try to patch over the problems, instead of electing to carry out a full recall.  The report seems to confirm earlier analysis by Richard Windsor of Nomura Securities, which was the first to finger the Infineon chipset for the problems.

The Infineon chip is not physically flawed according to sources, but the chipset software is defective, causing the phone to have trouble switching networks.  One source blames the relatively untested nature of the Infineon chips for this.  They also point out that the iPhone uses far more 3G bandwidth than other phones, thanks to internet surfing.  This means that in heavy use areas, 3G bandwidth can run out.  The phone then is unable to switch networks.

According to the source, the San Francisco Bay area, Boston, and certain overseas locales are among the high use areas particularly susceptible to problems.

This seems to be a separate problem than more basic problem described by the Swedes.  However, the two problems may be related and/or compounding each other.

The two sources did confirm that Apple is working on a software update due out at the end of September at the latest, which is supposed to fix the Infineon chipset problems.  In its dismissal statement, AT&T may have hinted at that stating, "We urge our customers to synch iPhone 3G to iTunes frequently to ensure they have the latest software updates."

The update may come too late to make peace with some disgruntled iPhone owners.  Says one user jazzwill on Apple's site, "I'm so sick of hearing people say 'turn off 3G'.  Uh, why pay an extra $10 [for AT&T's iPhone plan] and get a new phone that is advertised to 'just work' then???…. I returned my iPhone 3G because the iPhone 3G stinks in my opinion. I went back to my original iPhone."

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Play with the big boys, deal with big boy issues
By bobcpg on 8/14/2008 10:19:25 AM , Rating: 4
Well I know everyone (even me) was to hear "Apple: it just works". While that rip still applies its better to say that I am happy all this is happening. I think Apple needs a little humbling, if not Apple, at least some of the users do.




RE: Play with the big boys, deal with big boy issues
By TomZ on 8/14/2008 10:26:10 AM , Rating: 4
Apple: "It just works, after we fix it."


By computergeek485 on 8/14/2008 10:39:20 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
Apple: "It just works, after we fix it."


Haha yeah just like this picture

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd303/computerg...


By crystal clear on 8/14/2008 11:43:34 AM , Rating: 2
also

A fix is in the works till then give us a break !

After all it is the essential part of the apple experience.....


RE: Play with the big boys, deal with big boy issues
By kelmon on 8/14/2008 10:30:45 AM , Rating: 4
The sad fact seems to be these days that less stuff from Apple "just works" than it used to. Whether Apple are spreading themselves too thinly or the reason is something else is unclear. I hope they sort out whatever the problem is so that we can go back to the good ol' days.

Perhaps the increased sales means that the statistical blips are becoming more apparent with more users impacted.


RE: Play with the big boys, deal with big boy issues
By Hare on 8/14/2008 1:16:11 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Perhaps the increased sales means that the statistical blips are becoming more apparent with more users impacted.

I've been using Apple products for ages and at least my personal opinion is that nowadays products are really rushed to the market. Previously Apple products had better quality (HW & SW). The previous laptop generation had huge issues with plastics, Leopard was just awful when it came out, not to mention the disaster called MobileMe...

Apple "used to just work" now it seems that they do their testing with actual customers (the early adaptors get hurt the most). This is nothing new. Apple has a bad reputation with rev1 products (new laptop models etc).


RE: Play with the big boys, deal with big boy issues
By kelmon on 8/14/2008 1:36:47 PM , Rating: 2
No argument there. I remember installing Mac OS X 10.3 Panther on its release and thought it was perfect then. Tiger had a number of issues on release that annoyed and, yes, Leopard was terrible on Day 1. Now it's fine for me but it took months to get to that point and it never should have been that way. So now I'm very wary of Day 1 product releases from Apple and that's a shame.


By redbone75 on 8/15/2008 1:36:18 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
So now I'm very wary of Day 1 product releases from Apple and that's a shame.

Umm... why wouldn't you be wary of any Day 1 release, regardless of who's behind it?


By daftrok on 8/15/2008 2:25:17 AM , Rating: 2
The problem with companies like Apple is that they can't continue to ride the marketing train forever. Then again marketing is what keeps the cash flowing and helps with expansion. There has to be a middle ground where they can come out with the products they need at a passable quality and the marketing to make it public.

Apple has never made a cellphone before. And as such there will be growing pains. It is an inevitability no matter what you start with. I'm sure that when the first iPods came out there were a plethora of problems, even more so with its transition to PC compatibility. And that is another factor: expansion. The more you expand, the more paramount the errors become. 1,000,000 laptops with 10,000 defective units, no problem. 100,000,000 laptops with 1,000,000 defective units, BIG problem.

Apple works, after the growing pains, transitions, defective units and buggy software. Just like every other electronics company.


By fxyefx on 8/14/2008 11:27:02 AM , Rating: 2
Humbling is the last thing Apple needs as a company, with the image they've created with their marketing. Their marketing is the one part of their output that truly "Just Works."


By Rodney McNaggerton on 8/14/2008 11:26:21 PM , Rating: 3
I do wonder how long Apple can keep up the marketing gimmicks they pull. For example they are the only company that doesn't refresh their laptop lineup until after school has started. Why? Because last years hardware has a higher profit margin, and they have a ton in stock, along with a huge stock of last years ipods and they "give it away" to you, but still rake in a ton of money, because they sell something that is not as up to date and powerful as the competitor. This is a small, and perhaps not as powerful example as the ipod itself. The ipod sells itunes music which forces people to go and buy another ipod. APPLE LOVES DRM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY MAY SAY. They make a ton of money on it, why wouldn't they like it. I could go on, but I fear being rated down by the pro-Apple readers... and I'm tired =D.


Lesson #1 - Test Before Release
By kelmon on 8/14/2008 10:24:24 AM , Rating: 2
I don't know how much testing was done with the 3G iPhone before release in the US but reports for other locations suggest that the phone was only provided for testing with the local network a couple of days before release. Even if the device is functioning perfectly you'd expect more time than that to be made available prior to release, just in case.

Perhaps not buying one yet is going to turn out to be a smart "plan", which, frankly, was simply the result of not having EUR 600 to blow on one.




RE: Lesson #1 - Test Before Release
By crystal clear on 8/14/2008 11:13:31 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
I don't know how much testing was done with the 3G iPhone before release in the US


Didnt you know when you buy an iPhone, you buy yourself a status symbol of a beta tester.

You pay to test their products....


RE: Lesson #1 - Test Before Release
By HrilL on 8/14/2008 11:37:02 AM , Rating: 2
Aww, you beat me to it. Yes apple's first gen products have always been somewhat beta products. And since the iphone 3g is not a second gen iphone it is clearly beta status. Look at the first gen ipods with batteries that ended up lasting 2 hours max.


By crystal clear on 8/14/2008 12:01:16 PM , Rating: 2
After all it is the essential part of the apple experience.....


RE: Lesson #1 - Test Before Release
By kelmon on 8/14/2008 1:15:10 PM , Rating: 3
True, but I had expected the first generation iPhone to be the beta product. After a year and various updates you'd have thought that the 3G iPhone would have been rolled out without issue. So much for that theory...


No logo?
By fishbits on 8/14/2008 10:38:20 AM , Rating: 2
Surely Apple didn't forget to stamp its logo on the iPhone 3G? That act alone boosts the value and performance of its components by threefold. Hopefully the gushing review of the iBox is still accurate.
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=33...

As Apple expands, it is running into users and members of the press who aren't cultists, but make decisions based on price, performance and quality. "So, explain again why I should pay a $900 premium for the OS compared to the Linux / Windows laptops sitting next to it?" Little more function, little less fashion, please.




RE: No logo?
By kelmon on 8/14/2008 10:51:33 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
So, explain again why I should pay a $900 premium for the OS compared to the Linux / Windows laptops sitting next to it?


Usually I would say because you want a hassle-free computing experience. Your own mileage will vary depending upon your own requirements since you may want something that Apple doesn't do well in, such as gaming. Personally, I've had 2 Macs now since getting fed up with XP and they're worth the money to me, and that's what counts given the amount of time they are used for on a daily basis.

The best way to check whether a Mac is right for you is to spend some hands-on time with one doing with it those things that are important to you. In this respect the introduction of the Apple Stores where people can walk in off the street and do just this was absolutely the right thing to do.


RE: No logo?
By nosfe on 8/14/2008 12:18:44 PM , Rating: 3
so what is it that you use mac os for? i use windows to run other programs, i double click a shortcut and it starts the program that i want to work with and that's the end of the "windows experience" for me, how can mac os improve on that?