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This is one of those times when I wish Apple would not be so secretive. This kind of testing is available everywhere, and the information, good or bad (with a solution) would help consumers confidence. I said it earlier, and I hate to be repetitive, but sometimes Apples policies leave customers wondering who is on whose side.

Its that kind of perception of unresponsiveness that starts many lawsuits.

Regards

Swedes were among the first reporters on the 3G's shortcomings. Just look down the page.

(AP) updated 8:57 p.m. CT, Wed., Aug. 13, 2008

SEATTLE - Spotty wireless broadband connectivity for some of Apple Inc.'s new iPhones most likely results from a hardware problem introduced during mass production, a Swedish technical magazine reported Wednesday.

Ny Teknik, Sweden's foremost engineering weekly, obtained a report on tests conducted by unnamed experts that showed some handsets' sensitivity to third-generation network signals is well below the level specified in the 3G standard.

So-called 3G networks offer the promise of faster Web surfing on cell phone browsers, and make bandwidth-hogging applications like video calling feasible. Phones that access 3G networks must meet certain engineering and technical specifications, which are set and maintained by the International Telecommunication Union, a Geneva-based organization.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26187370/

Perhaps it affects some units more than others.

Apple gets it's own RRoD.

Wired's been running a survey too. http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wir … k_weakness

the brand spankin' new blackberry bolds have been found to be having the same problem as the iPhones on AT&T's 3G network.

Of course, it is only the networks who claim that they're not a factor (like we believe them). I wouldn't be surprised if Apple can fix some of the problems with firmware but we're probably going to have to wait for the networks to get their act in gear like AT&T with EDGE when the first iphone came out.

Two dB less than a Nokia, eh? Nothing to sneeze at. (My Nokias stayed in touch in places my Motorola throws a fit.)

I thought AT&T was making the commercials for the iPhone and Apple was just approving them. Has this changed?

Well I'd take what Verizon says with a grain of salt.

Obviously they have a vested interest, but point out the data is up on AT&T's own site.

The final bit of confusion was the update to the iPhone's firmware.  The 2.0.2 update said it had "bug fixes" for the iPhone, but gave no specific details.  Apple's Jennifer Bowcock did tell USA Today that "the software update improves communication with 3G networks".   With such a hazy picture, a new inside source from AT&T steps in to try to clarify exactly what the fix did according to Roughly Drafted.

Basically the update "fixed power control on the mobile" according to the source.  To understand what they're going to say next, you must first know a bit about AT&T's jargon for UMTS -- the technology it uses to deliver its 3G network.  In the technology, phones are referred to as user equipment, "UE" for short.  The base transceiver station towers are known as "Node B".

With this jargon in mind, the AT&T source explains:

In UMTS power control is key to the mobile and network success. If the UE requires too much downlink power then the base station or Node B can run out of transmitter power and this is what was happening. As you get more UEs on the cell, the noise floor rises and the cell has to compensate by ramping up its power to the UEs.  If the UE power control algorithm is faulty then they will demand more power from the cell than is necessary and with multiple users this can cause the cell transmitter to run out of power. The net result is that some UEs will drop their call. I have seen the dropped call graphs that correspond to the iPhone launch and when the 2.0.2 firmware was released. The increase in dropped calls, (were the result of) dropped calls due to a lack of downlink power.

In essence, the iPhone is asking for a stronger signal than it needs.  In areas with lots of users, some or all of whose phones are doing this, calls start to get dropped and signal quality drops.  This all follows with the conclusions the media had reached -- the problems were somehow correlated to user distribution and seemed puzzlingly to be both with AT&T's network, and with the hardware.

The source continues:

The power control issue will also have an effect on the data throughput, because the higher the data rate the more power the Node B transmitter requires to transmit. If the UEs have poor power control and are taking more power than is necessary then it will sap the network’s ability to deliver high speed data.  This is one of the reasons why AT&T has been sending text messages to users to persuade them to upgrade to the 2.0.2 software. In a mixed environment where users are running 2.0, 2.0.1, and 2.0.2, the power control problems of 2.0 and 2.0.1 will affect the 2.0.2 users.  It is not the network that is fault but the interaction of the bad power control algorithm in 2.0 and 2.0.1 software and the network that is at fault. The sooner everybody is running 2.0.2 software the better things will be. Having seen the graphs the 2.0.2 software has already started to make difference.

Since transmitting lots of data takes lots of transmission power, and transmission power was unnecessarily being raised above that necessary for the use levels on phones, the network in areas of heavy use was unable to handle high speed data.

This revelation offers up two key pieces of insight.  The first -- this explains why there was little difference seen among individual users in the news media who downloaded and tested the update.  The updates did not majorly change the phone on an individual basis; rather they changed how the phone interacted with the network in a small way. 

Secondly, the quality of the fix is directly proportional to how many users download it.  There are still many users running old firmware, so problems are continuing.  AT&T is going as far as to send users text messages to try to get them to download the fix.

With this latest update from within AT&T, we are presented with a picture of a company struggling with a serious technical issue.  It appears it is well on the way of solving the problems, but the rub is that the solution will only come if users are willing to cooperate.

Report: AT&T Source Explains Exact Technical Details of iPhone 3G Probems

There is another... lawsuit.[/yoda]

Apple, AT&T sued for too many iPhones on 'overloaded' network
Bloomberg News
Article Launched: 09/03/2008 09:12:46 PM PDT

Apple and its U.S. wireless partner AT&T are being sued for selling too many iPhones by a customer who says the high-speed phone network has been "overloaded" and unable to deliver promised performance.

The iPhone 3G, designed to work with AT&T's faster third-generation network, switches over to slower networks because of the "high volume of 3G iPhones sold," according to an Aug. 29 complaint filed in San Diego. Plaintiff William J. Gillis Jr. is seeking class-action, or group, status on behalf of other users.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews … ck=1%20%20