iLounge

41

Okay I was just ear hustling in a lunch area and behold ...
some peaved ATT workers sitting next to me. You got it ... ATT did something dumb, from the sounds of it ... “I told the idiot that this 3G network is completely unstable and to redevelop it or fix it before the iPhone launch”. SO a table full of ATT suits stressing out says it all. The network is either not ready or is overloaded, or is just plain junk. They didn’t once complain about apple ... it was all about the network.

Posted by marcus on August 12, 2008 at 4:09 PM (PDT)

42

I have to turn off the 3G to get any coverage at all.  If it’s turned on I can watch the bars go down and then “No Service” sign pops up and I will not get a signal at all until I turn off the 3G.  Sometimes it freaks the phone out, and I have to do a reboot to get the phone to work properly.  Also, under 3G, if I am able to access anything before the bars go away, the app (such as the map) will lock up, and it takes several reboots, and a sync with iTunes to get the iPhone to start working again…. of course with 3G turned off.
I want my old iPhone back.  The 3G iPhone is also slower than my original iPhone, and the build quality of the new phone seems to be of lesser quality.  I’m very disappointed in Apple for releasing this product before all these issues had been thoroughly tested and fixed.

Posted by BigD on August 12, 2008 at 4:52 PM (PDT)

43

I have been sitting at my desk on the 32nd floor of a Chicago building and switch back and forth between eadge and 3G. Also, the other day a friend and I were sitting next to each other at the Cubs game and I had 3G and he was connected through eadge.

Posted by greg Scaperlanda on August 12, 2008 at 5:27 PM (PDT)

44

Apple needs to fix this problem right away.
AT&T;needs to reduce the Data fee to FREE.

3g is unusable for talk. Even AT&T;knows this.
I called them a few days ago.
This 3g Iphone is junk. The last Apple product I WILL EVERY buy.

Posted by Mike on August 12, 2008 at 6:15 PM (PDT)

45

God, do I have problems.

Middle of San Francisco, dropped calls, straight to voicemail, no signal, sub par service.

Posted by DougRidgway on August 12, 2008 at 6:38 PM (PDT)

46

I live in Chicago and have tons of connection problems with my 3G Iphone. The apple store blames AT&T;and suggested that I turn off my 3G—I am not amused. The At&T;Store replaced my SIM card, pointed to the coverage map and told me it was not a problem. Perhaps we could just start to chant that the “3G IPhone is not wearing any clothes.” since both apple and AT&T;both denied that there was a “real” connection issue.
Thanks for taking this us!

Posted by Katybeth on August 12, 2008 at 8:12 PM (PDT)

47

I live in Los Angeles (coastal) and am getting a great deal of dropped calls on my new 3G.  I am also having a lot of situations where my phone does not ring when there is an incoming call, and people are sent straight to voicemail.  This is not the quality Apple is (used to be?) known for.  I hope something is done, whether it’s the network or the phone. 

And to think we are paying MORE for this so-called “service”.

Posted by Anonymous on August 12, 2008 at 11:38 PM (PDT)

48

I’m having HEAPS of issues - dropping calls all the time, bad coverage. I’m in central Sydney all the time, on the Optus network.

Posted by Mark Davies on August 13, 2008 at 1:07 AM (PDT)

49

The frequency of dropped and straight-to-voicemail calls was so bad that my fiancée and I returned our two 16G iPhones after two weeks. And this is in downtown Chicago. At one point I had to dial the Apple Store 24 times, because it dropped every time. A pair of replacement units were no better, and restoring the phone to get the ‘…347’ firmware build did not improve reception either.

I loved everything about the iPhone except for, you know, the phone part. After being treated incredibly rudely by AT&T;staff, I am now a reluctant Sprint customer, considering an iPod touch. But at least I can make calls!

Posted by Brian Drum on August 13, 2008 at 4:16 AM (PDT)

50

I’m from Melbourne and i just received my iPhone 3G a week ago. I’m glad to report that i’ve not had any interruptions during calls. Internet speed is also relatively fast on 3G. I do get 1-3 bars reduced when I enter buildings but this is similar to my previous Nokia N80 phone. So far, i am very pleased with my iPhone. I currently do not know anyone else who owns an iPhone 3G so i am unable to compare. However, i will keep this board informed as time goes. Hope this helps, cheers.

Posted by Leon on August 13, 2008 at 4:34 AM (PDT)

51

I live just outside of NYC in the burbs. I have strong 3G signal in my home area when using other 3G phones and my 3G modem on my laptop. However on my iPhone the signal bounces everywhere and so do my calls. I can be in a conversation and the call drops with “Call Failed” message. This happens several times a day even when I work in Manhattan which has to be the most solid 3G market of all of AT&T;‘s areas. I am on my third iPhone and had my SIM card replaced by AT&T;, none of which has made any difference. I have been reading about this problem everywhere and they have to come up with a solution. Apple Genius Bar solution is to turn of 3G. Turn of 3G?? The reason I replaced my original iPhone was for the 3G speed, plus I’m paying extra for it. Why would I turn off something I am paying for? Is AT&T;going to reimburse me for having my 3G turned of? Hell, No! I see this turning into a class action lawsuit real soon.

Posted by John Witt on August 13, 2008 at 4:41 AM (PDT)

52

I’ve had many connection issues to the point where I just turn the 3G off.  I can stand in one spot and get a full 3G signal on my wife’s motorola, and I will have 1 bar or even no 3G signal on the iPhone.  Right now I’m going through a problem altogether with the iPhone.  I can’t seem to get it to reset or even sync with iTunes.  All I get is the Apple symbol on the screen and it doesn’t go any further than that.  From reading on the net, I can see that I am not the only person with this issue.

Posted by David on August 13, 2008 at 6:08 AM (PDT)

53

Sadly, I have to report issues as well, generally in the Tampa Bay FL area, and on travels recently to Seattle. The iPhone will hang onto a <1 bar 3G signal and not switch over to a stronger EDGE network, or if it does do it, its slow and unpredictable.

I’m on the St. Petersburg side of the bay, and although showing as Orange, signal strength is sporadic. I reboot the phone daily. At times, switching off 3G helps, other times, it doesn’t seem to.

I have 4 iPhones on a Family plan, all unlimited. Just got my first bill from ATT! umm…> $1k for 4 phones? Should be 4x$129 +30 for text. Obvious screw up, and I’m dreading the call to CS @ATT.

Oh well, I’m confident Apple will do what they can, but I do fear ATT’s growing monopolization means less service and greater arrogance towards the consumer. So much for anti-trust laws under this scumbag, lobbyist run, FCC.

Posted by XBarbarian on August 13, 2008 at 7:33 AM (PDT)

54

I have had the same problems as mentioned above, switching in and out from 3G to Edge when even standing still in a good 3G coverage area.

I think AT&T;should be refunding us the extra money for the data plan if we can’t get 3G access consistently even when you are in an area that is covered completely by 3G.

I never had a drop call that I can remember on my first generation iPhone but now I have dropped calls all the time.

Posted by drewm513 on August 13, 2008 at 10:19 AM (PDT)

55

My 3G iPhone let me down in San Francisco streets for my meeting, lost the signal and got late for my appointment.

Posted by Axel Guzman on August 13, 2008 at 10:29 AM (PDT)

56

So I have been with Att for a few years and the reception has sucked in my house since day one…. So with my 3g my 3g reception sucks… But everywhere else I have full 3g bars. have not dropped any calls and am happy with my iphone… better service at my home would be nice but this is something I am use to.. ###### service at my house. Apple will fix it. They will not risk destroying their entire iPhone name because of this. Oh I live just west of Portland OR.

Posted by Chris Moore on August 13, 2008 at 11:05 AM (PDT)

57

Here in the United Kingdom, 3G reception and signal strength is absolutely pathetic! The moment you switch over to 3G, the signal strength goes from maximum to just 1 signal bar on the O2 network and I have never seen it stronger than 2 signal bars no matter where within Central or Greater London area I have been. I am delighted to report that, notwithstanding the fact I bought a 16GB 3G iphone, I am still happily using the 2G first iPhone model with the 2.0.1 software and it works brilliantly (on Vodafone, I might add). It would not surprise me at all that the 3G iPhone has been released to the general public with a number of software and hardware issues in order for Apple to achieve its release and financial targets. Judging by the manner in which the global population has been ‘infected’ by the 3G iphone, they succeeded even if the device fails to meet the expected standards in many areas.
I should not even mention that the specification of the 3G iphone (in its telephone part at least) is over a year out of date compared to all other major manufacturers and even now it is an incomplete and insufficiently performing device. Hat off to Apple and we must all be addicted suckers, me included.

Posted by Jonathan Miller on August 13, 2008 at 11:10 AM (PDT)

58

In atlanta, 2 phones, mine is fine, my wife has issues with lots of dropped calls.  Both 16g white phones, mostly the same software and firmware.

Posted by MattT on August 13, 2008 at 1:03 PM (PDT)

59

My 3G Iphone is unusable in my house unless I deactivate 3G, then it works perfectly.  There is definately an issue with the handset which needs to be addressed urgently.  The handset does not appear to have the intelligence to know when to use the 2G network, and it will cycle constantly between an unusable 3G and 2G network, meaning I cannot make and receive calls.

Posted by Phil on August 13, 2008 at 1:04 PM (PDT)

60

Can anyone say “charge back”?

Just imagine the chaos that would ensue if just 5% of iPhone 3G customers worldwide filed a charge back with their credit card company.

Methinks Apple may end up regretting the fact that they required people to pay for this POS with a credit card.

Maybe Apple should change the iPhone 3G’s tagline to “Half the price.  Twice the dropped calls.”

Posted by Dave G on August 13, 2008 at 1:28 PM (PDT)