iPhone 3G network problems may get firmware fix

**Vertabreaker** · 08-15-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

In the past week, there have been a number of reports about the iPhone 3G and problems with 3G networks. Anonymous wailings and gnashings of teeth on Apple's Discussion boards, as well as articles in newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle, are strikingly similar: dropped calls and stuttering broadband. Consider the tale of Stephen Yarbough.

"I was driving down Folsom Street in San Francisco and I got a dropped call 10 times. I get dropped calls just standing in one place," said Yarbrough, a 34-year-old San Francisco accountant.

As someone who regularly travels to San Francisco, I can add my own anecdote. There's a spot on a street in the Financial District where I can face east and get 3G, but turning west will lose connection for a minute before switching to EDGE. It's like Feng Shui broadband. As to what the cause of the problem is, there is much speculation. Tom Krazit writes up two possibilities for C|NET. The first is a hilarious Google translation from The Netherlands and T-Mobile via MacRumors.

"The 3G coverage of T-Mobile is as good as the competition, there can therefore not lie. We suspect that it is a hardware / software specific issue of the iPhone itself," T-Mobile Netherlands said, according to a Google Translation of the post.

In other words, it's Apple's fault. However, a second article at C|NET points to a research note posted on GigaOm from Richard Windsor of Nomura Group, in which the analyst narrows the blame.

"We believe that these issues are typical of an immature chipset and radio protocol stack where we are almost certain that Infineon is the 3G supplier," Windsor wrote.

Windsor also suggests its a problem that occurs when the signal is weakest, and that a firmware fix won't solve it. We may find out soon. Peter Burrows at BusinessWeek cites "well-placed" sources as saying a firmware fix is on the way. However, it is also being suggested that, at least in the US, AT&T might be to blame, as well as Apple, of course.

One source says Apple programmed the Infineon chip to demand a more powerful 3G signal than the iPhone really requires. So if too many people try to make a call or go on the Internet in a given area, some of the devices will decide there's insufficient power and switch to the slower network—even if there is enough 3G bandwidth

Supposedly, the "problem is affecting 2% to 3% of iPhone traffic," which doesn't seem so bad, as long as no one else buys an iPhone. The real problem for Apple will be if the firmware upgrade doesn't work. As it stands, we are currently at the second step in a process of customer service that will be familiar to longtime Mac users.

There is a problem with an Apple product.
Apple won't admit to it.
Someone threatens legal action.
Apple does a recall.
Welcome to the club, iPhone users.

**CHAOS** · 08-15-2008, 08:04 AM

**TTsupra911** · 08-15-2008, 08:36 AM

they better fix it before I buy the damn phone

**Munky** · 08-15-2008, 08:59 AM

**Broken5hift** · 08-15-2008, 10:02 AM

LMAO @ braodband Feng Shui.

Ive been pretty disappointing with my reception also, yet oddly, it got better in the past few days? Usually with AT&T i have full bars all the time

**Vissionary** · 08-15-2008, 12:20 PM

pft they better get to fixing the wifi problems 2.0 brought

**FastSpecV** · 08-15-2008, 03:51 PM

My name is Hozay and I sell phones, aren't I the man!?

**hozay09** · 08-17-2008, 12:24 AM

My 3G area is fine. At work however it is very weak compared to other 3G devices. Would be nice to see an update. I don't keep 3G on since I'm almost ALWAYS in an Wi-Fi area so the times I use the 3G I'm fine since I'm out & about when using it.

08-15-2008, 08:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
CHAOS SOT Screwdriver Goes Where Mod Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fucking Bullshit. Posts: 20,247 gXboxLive Leaderboard: 44^th	__________________ SOT - you aint... no goon.

08-15-2008, 08:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
TTsupra911 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: an Amish barn Posts: 9,779 gXboxLive Leaderboard: 57^th	they better fix it before I buy the damn phone __________________ Xbox Live... what's that XBL SN - axSRT05 In Dallas for the Dallas vs. San Fran Game 11/22-11/24 Dallas Cowboys - never mind... this season was a complete failure

08-15-2008, 08:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Munky SOT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wyomissing, PA Posts: 1,464	__________________ Myspace

08-15-2008, 10:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
Broken5hift SOT Administrator Join Date: May 2006 Location: 345T C045t Posts: 26,266 gXboxLive Leaderboard: 27^th	LMAO @ braodband Feng Shui. Ive been pretty disappointing with my reception also, yet oddly, it got better in the past few days? Usually with AT&T i have full bars all the time __________________ SOT - .... I dunno, i wasnt really paying attention....

08-15-2008, 12:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vissionary SOT Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 45,161 gXboxLive Leaderboard: 43^rd	pft they better get to fixing the wifi problems 2.0 brought __________________ SOT - We'll pull your endocrine system out of your body and make a hat out of it.

08-15-2008, 03:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
FastSpecV SOT Whiny Bitch Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newtown, PA but more like Hamilton, NJ Posts: 3,448 gXboxLive Leaderboard: 7^th	My name is Hozay and I sell phones, aren't I the man!? __________________ Last edited by FastSpecV; 08-17-2008 at 12:06 PM.

08-17-2008, 12:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
hozay09 SOT Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Ghetto Posts: 2,570	My 3G area is fine. At work however it is very weak compared to other 3G devices. Would be nice to see an update. I don't keep 3G on since I'm almost ALWAYS in an Wi-Fi area so the times I use the 3G I'm fine since I'm out & about when using it. __________________

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