Yesterday was an interesting day. First, we launched our newly redesigned website, complete with social networking “share this” icons, YouTube video, our first blog, and live chat. We’ve always wanted to share our passion for civil justice in a more engaging way than the traditional “online brochure,” so we were extremely anxious to unveil the site and finally be able to instantly interact with the world outside of our law firm.
Well it was on that fateful morning yesterday, just hours after we launched the new site, when an issue was brought to our attention regarding the new iPhone 4 that was released last week. Apparently the new phone has a problem with intermittent connectivity, depending on how the device is held by the user. As a result, people are upset.
Now, we presume that the 1.7 million people who purchased the new iPhone are, like us, eager to get their hands on a new technology that would enhance their ability to communicate. Hmmm… people anxiously awaiting their moment of mobile interactivity with the rest of the world? We can certainly relate to that!
So we wanted to know more. We wanted to know about the problem with the phones and how Apple was planning to address it. What better way than to post an inquiry on our brand new shiny website and engage the world of iPhone users?
Well, today we know two things: (1) live chat really works and (2) thousands of people are really unhappy with their new iPhones and Apple’s response to the antenna issue.
Aside from those revelations, we also know what we’ve known since we started this firm: we are on the side of the consumer. We are about holding businesses accountable for the products they create and sell to the masses.
So we told our audience we wanted to hear from them – and boy, did we! Over 1400 emails in one day – 98% of which overwhelmingly expressed discontent. But we also heard from people who want to be fair to Apple, and we appreciate their input because we want to be fair to Apple, too. We love our gadgets just as much as the next person and we’re excited to see the opportunities new technology creates. We just want to make sure those opportunities are presented to people with integrity. Technology isn’t cheap, after all, so people want to get what they pay for.
We are in a new world today. We can access one another in ways that create a whole host of new issues and conversations about what’s right and what’s wrong. And we need those conversations to make sure everyone, from manufacturers to businesses to consumers, makes progress together.
However, for the time being, we just need to make sure that if we’re taking part in those conversations on a new iPhone 4, we’re careful about how we hold the phone.
July 1, 2010 at 4:31 am
Also many people who bought the 3Gs within 30 days of the launch release were promised a free upgrade, and did not get it if they did not have a credit card. Even when I offered cash for the full price of the phone as coladeral, I was told credit card only. I was not informed of needing a credit card untill I tried to place my promised pre-order. I am sure there are people who were not even made aware of this. As I am sure Apple and AT&T knew this would happen. I would just like to say, it is about time some one holds them accountable! Go get em !
July 1, 2010 at 5:03 am
Also, if it was to be an even exchange why should I have to give them any more of my money… I can see if I was buying a phone as a pre-order or new customer and I did not have the phones that I had allready purchased. My girlfriend had a card with a $500 limit that was maxed buying the 2 phones in the first place. If I had known we would need the card we would have payd it off instead of trying to carry the balance on the card to build credit…
July 1, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Yes I agree with you! Even the so called “authorize”. You can’t buy an iphone 4 if you are NOT included in the family plan as “authorize” user (individual is excluded on this). Which is BS because I was able to buy 2g and 3g few years ago WITHOUT myself being added on the authorization. And this is WITHOUT any information from AT&T. All they advertise is the “Eligibility”, “Pre-order”, “Availability”, “features” and “PRICE” of course! To information your regular/loyal subscribers is NOT a hard thing to do AT&T!!!
Just imagine yourself waking up so early and trying to fall in line for so many hours and just to find out “I’m sorry, but you have to be included as authorize in the plan” and “You can’t but an iPhone4 if you don’t have a credit card” WTF!
And then to find out that the device you just bought DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY! The device was not fully tested and has launched without a proper testings! In short, for me it is defective !
July 1, 2010 at 5:09 am
I would just like to add that as a small service business owner, even I know quality is ALLWAYS more cost effective. Isn’t that one of the business stradigies Ford used to compete with Japanese manufacturers?
July 1, 2010 at 11:20 am
This should bolster a false advertising claim
http://i.imgur.com/Yt0Bk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EDqCj.jpg
(Source: http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=110850)
July 1, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Touching the gap in the lower left part of the steel rim causes a drop in signal strength of 24 dB. This drop in signal strength is greater than any other drop that can be recreated on comparable phones, in some cases twice as bad.
Most consumers will not notice it though, because with great reception you can have the signal drop that much and still have 5 bars. The best 5 bar signal you can get is -51 dB. So even if you experience a signal strength drop of 24 dB: -51 dB – 24 dB = -75 dB. The lowest signal strength you can have with 5 bars is -91 dB, and -75 dB is above that, so with a great signal you can experience a strength loss of 24 dB and still get 5 bars
The problem pops up when you have a weak 5 bar signal, which as stated above is around -91 dB The lowest signal strength you can have with only 1 bar is -113 dB. Math makes the problem obvious: -91 dB – 24 dB = -115 dB. Touching the gap in the lower left part of the steel rim causes a weak 5 bar signal to drop down to a weak 1 bar signal. If you have 4 bars or less, most likely you will receive “no service” or “searching”.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2
Apple is attempting to deceive its customers not only by not being upfront about this flaw, but also showing users holding the phone in a way that causes the signal loss explained above.
July 2, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I too have been experiencing major problems, I’m on my second iPhone 4 and still having major issued with the phone not having service, at@t gave me a new phone and I have recorded around 6hrs of talk time between apple and at@t and they say everything works fine yet they keep taking money off my bill and give me new phones to make me happy, I’ll be happy when I cancel my plan and go with sprint or verizon
July 15, 2010 at 6:54 pm
The iphone 4 is my first from apple and I regret buying it from the moment I made the first phone call. Almost all of my calls are dropped and I constantly have to re-dial or use a land line to apologize and complete the call. It is outrageous that apple expects the customer to pay to fix the phone. It is an abuse towards all of us from them.
Haven’t they made plenty of money by know. The so called, “fix” bumper costs $29.00 before taxes. Are they kidding??