• Apple Offers Free Cases for iPhone 4 Users

    Apple Offers Free Cases for iPhone 4 Users

    Rahul Srinivas, Jul 16, 2010 2345 hrs IST

    Full refund if you already bought a Bumper.

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Apple's much awaited "Antennagate" press conference is underway as we file this report and if you have been looking for updates on this front, we do have some dope for you.

The press con began with none other than Steve Jobs himself coming up on stage with oodles of data showcasing how this much hyped reception issue isn t an iPhone 4 exclusive. Without revealing dropped call related statistics (which AT&T wasn't keen to divulge due to competitive concerns) Jobs went on to reveal numbers that makes the iPhone 4 seem a victim of bad press. Here are some bullet points that Jobs emphasized upon during the course of the conference.


  • Only 0.55 of all iPhone users have contacted Apple with a reception issue.
  • The iPhone 4 drops less than one more call per 100 calls when compared to the iPhone 3GS.
  • The iPhone 4 has a return rate of just 1.4% compared to the 3GS' 6.0%
  • All smartphones have weak spots. (Including the iPhone)
  • The iOS4 4.0.1 update released on July 15 fixes the antenna bar and the Exchange bug
  • The reception issues have been blown out of proportion

Steve Jobs also took this opportunity to claim that even their competitors' phones including the likes of the BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris, and Samsung Omnia II can be affected by this left handed grip issue. 

 


That said, Apple will also give away free Bumper cases to users who would want one. This is because the case apparently solves the reception issue. For those of you who already spent your money on the case, there is a refund coming your way. Still not happy? There's more. Apple is also offering a full refund on your phone if you return your iPhone within 30 days of purchase. This one isn't actually a new offer. Apple had earlier announced this in their earlier "Letter regarding the iPhone 4" release on July 2.


 


Another interesting thing about the refund is the fact that it would be valid only for all iPhone's purchased until September 30, 2010. Now, the iPhone 4 is expected to arrive here in India by mid- September which basically means that we Indians would not be eligible for the free case (unless of course Apple revises the policy for India). Another theory that has come to my mind is the possibility of Apple actually tending to the issue and solve the issue once and for all - which basically means an updated iPhone. After-all, the iPhone 4 would continue to sell post the September 30 deadline. At the moment all Steve Jobs has said is that they will "examine" the situation then.


Well, that kind of sums it up. Time to move on? 

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Discussion Board
(14) Comments
S S Jain
,Mumbai, on May 30, 2011 03:34 PM
I have been using the iPhone 4 in India (Mumbai) for the last 9 months. in the past two weeks, the phone goes dead / gets frozen. What is the cause of the problem ? What can i do to over come this problem?
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hary
,delhi, on Jul 19, 2010 05:31 PM
guys, just get an Iphone 3gs and update with IOS 4. works perfectly.
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Gautam
,Pune, on Jul 17, 2010 02:51 PM
The moral of the story: DONT BUY IPHONE 4G. Rather invest the money by buying something else (& better!). Thanku Mr. Jobs, U opened my eyes!
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arun
,trivandrum, on Jul 19, 2010 09:50 AM
But there is no phone named "IPHONE 4G" for you to buy kiddo. Don't buy such a phone and go for IPHONE 4.
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Moe
,Los Angeles, on Jul 17, 2010 11:43 PM
Something I was waiting for someone to ask on that conference was: "How much radiation the user is exposed to when he or she touches the Iphone's antenna during a normal call? Is that safe?
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jamal
,gorakhpur, on Jul 17, 2010 10:49 PM
man, what a mountain out of a mole hill. I have a nokia smartphone and the 3g bars go down when i sort of hold it at the bottom while typing. The networks ok on 2g though. I laughed out loud when i saw the sick announcement by nokia on nokia conversation.
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saif
,mumbai, on Jul 17, 2010 05:49 PM
Well done Steve keep it up this good "JOB"
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Sujal
,New Delhi, on Jul 17, 2010 12:10 AM
"The iPhone 4 drops lesser calls than the iPhone 3GS. One call lesser actually." Nope, Steve mentioned that even though iPhone 4 has a superior antenna, it drops more calls than 3GS per 100 calls, that is the iPhone 4 drops less than one additional call per 100 calls.
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richard
,sydney, on Jul 17, 2010 05:27 PM
Unfortunately for those who think they may have a cool phone but the fact of matter is that you're carrying a dud handset in your pocket.
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Gazza
,U.k, on Jul 17, 2010 04:42 PM
No matter how I hold my ip4 I don't drop bars so what do I care? wheather you have a nokia, blackberry etc and it's problem free enjoy your phone and stop bitching about mine!
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Nishant
,Hyderabad, on Jul 17, 2010 04:15 PM
I hope some of the car manufacturers are not reading this, they would otherwise buy some of these bumpers from Apple and put them around their cars and claim that they have improved the car's crash ratings.
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devesh
,varanasi, on Jul 17, 2010 01:16 PM
all samrt ph have same prob mr jobs ??? u have made ur self a lauging stock by saying it . i have nokia E72 , when i fully enclose it in my plams , i dont loss any signal, they knew abt this prob & still sold iphone 4 , stop blaming ur prob as a general prob , u & ur products r sick
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Prithvi
,Pune, on Jul 17, 2010 01:10 PM
This is perhaps the biggest faux pas from Apple stable. Nokia doesn't seem to have any such issues. Call quality has been a problem area for Apple and now this. Steve Jobs may have had it wrong with the US$100 mn investment into antennae + reception technology and now the customers loyalty has to be tested. Buy American on a full test here. @Kurien: The refunds are applicable as per following "if people are still unhappy, they can return their phones in an undamaged condition within 30 days of purchase for a full refund, restocking fee waived".
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Kurien
,Kottayam, on Jul 17, 2010 12:12 AM
Wron gly Stated Heading
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