[3GScottishUser]

Disappointing call performance in the 3G version of the iPhone could be down to the Infineon chip used in its manufacturer academics have claimed.
Poor signal sensitivity is the cause of problems with the iPhone’s 3G connection, according to research by the Claes Beckman, professor of microwave technology at the University of Gälve. Measurements show that the iPhone’s sensitivity to the 3G network signal is well below the value specified in the 3G standard, specified by ETSI.

As users have complained of dropped calls, poor internet service and low battery life, industry experts claim that substandard parts could be to blame. Richard Windsor, an analyst with Nomura, believes the problem involves a 3G communications chip made by the German company Infineon.
Wilson wrote: “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. There are too many instances on iPhone blogs and Apple's own website for it to be coincidence.”

A report by BusinessWeek claimed that the problem was with the Infineon technology, which it described as “fairly new and untested in high volumes outside a lab setting.”

Infineon spokesman Guenter Gaugler declined to comment on the iPhone, but noted that it had been supplying 3G chipsets to phone makers such as Samsung without any problems reported.

Apple has declined to comment on the reports; however spokesperson Natalie Kerris recommended that users regularly update their devices via iTunes to take advantage of any new software updates for the iPhone that might be released.

http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/3G_iPhone_poor_call_quality_due_to_chip.html

[Hands0n]

The $20,000,000 question is whether or not the chipset's sensitivity to 3G network signals can be adequately adjusted in the iPhone's firmware or not. If it cannot there may well need to be a total recall. Otherwise there will no doubt be a number of class actions (or the local equivalent) taken around the world. Worse still, the dent to Apple's reputation would be significant.

[Ben]

There wont be a total recall for this :p No way :p

Roll on the software update, though - like everyone else I'm curious to see whether the issue can be resolved via the rather elegant process of updating in iTunes.

[Hands0n]

One can only hope you are right Ben. But I remain sceptical for the time being. There is clearly something not at all right here.


An upcoming software patch may bring relief to iPhone 3G owners whose handsets have been struck down by inexplicable connection problems.

So reports the Wall Street Journal, which quotes unnamed “people familiar with the matter” who say that Apple is set to release a fix within weeks.

Since the 3G handset’s release, customers have complained that the phone frequently switches to Edge connections even when 3G is available. This results in a slow web connection and, sometimes, dropped calls.

Apple hasn’t officially acknowledged any such problem, but it’s a widely held belief that an Infineon-made chipset is to blame.

Full article here:- http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/08/15/iphone3g_patch/

Of course, all of the blogs and papers are absolutely full of this stuff, all saying exactly the same thing. This is not so much "smoke without fire" as a full on warehouse blaze!


It is either the Infineon chipset or Apple's programming of it, and we all have to hope that it is the latter. Anything hardware, that cannot be remedied in software, is going to result in the biggest poo storm Apple have ever witnessed upon them.

[3g-g]

Right, this might be a crazy shot in the dark here...

But, has anyone tried removing the SIM and cleaning it with a soft, dry cloth?

[Ben]

O2 are telling customers to do that :D No joke :D

Memories... If you think about it, being on O2 now is a bit like being on Three all those years back!

[3g-g]

O2 are telling customers to do that :D No joke :D

Oh deary me! Deary me indeed! :o

[miffed]

O2 are telling customers to do that :D No joke :D

Memories... If you think about it, being on O2 now is a bit like being on Three all those years back!

Indeed this is the scariest thing ! Because we know from bitter experience this means "we don't have a clue !!"