Bluetooth Issues on the iPhone 4: Possible Antenna Link
pic via mushive.com
Apparently, the voice and data reception on Apple’s new iPhone 4 is not all that and is catching mixed signals lately from the Apple drones—some customers are also reporting dismal Bluetooth performance from the popular smart phone. While reports so far have been thin and scattered, Bluetooth accessory company Jawbone acknowledged the problem in an email exchange with ZDNet columnist Jason O’Grady. Jawbone is aware that the iPhone 4 has been having troubles with all Bluetooth devices and the company is working on a fix with Apple and AT&T.
However, Apple still has been failed to even acknowledge that the iPhone 4 might have a real, physical problem with its newly redesigned antenna. A press conference scheduled for this Friday will be expected to unveil the claimed software patch for the cellular reception problem, even though most testers assert that the problem cannot be fixed without a recall and a redesign. Unless a large group of vocal iPhone 4 owners start shouting about the Bluetooth signal problem, Apple might pretend that it has never heard of it before.
What are we to do here Apple? We really want to buy your new iPhone 4 but now Bluetooth problems? How exactly are we supposed to not touch the new phone for fear of our signal strength dropping off when cannot even properly use our Bluetooth headsets on it? Quite disappointing, and I assume that it has something to do with the fact that the Bluetooth antenna was redesigned and integrated into the phone’s external stainless steel rim just like the cellular antenna. That magic little spot you touch to lose your bars on your iPhone 4? That is where the two antennas meet. C’mon Apple, hurry up and do something impressive to woo us all back to your magical land of sexy devices and stuff that just works.
Sound off and let me know what you think or to let me know if you too are having Bluetooth problems with your iPhone 4.
Tags: bluetooth, iPhone 4 antenna, apple iphone 4
I spent much of the weekend buying and returning Bluetooth earpieces because of iPhone 4 reception problems that I initially kind of blamed on my husband peevishness. Well, 2 Jawbone Icons, a Samesung, and a Bose Bluetooth later, I still had unsatisfactory reception, dropped calls, and disconnects when I was more than 3 feet from the iPhone. And forget putting it in either front or back pockets. I have real doubts that this problem can be fixed through any kind of software update.
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i recently upgraded to the iPhone4 from my 3G, and I can not get any bloetooth devices to work at all!!!!
I have tried 3 separate brands, thinking iot was them, but it’s the iPhone4.
What a joke!!! Cmon Apple! talk about not creating a safe environment for a person trying to drive while talking on the phone, especially in those states that ban you from using the cell phone without a handsfree device.
Get it fixed.
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Purchased iphone 4 on October 30, 2010. Trick or treat? The bluetooth signal is extremely weak. When the phone is in either of my front pant pockets, my listener experiences static to no sound. When I remove the case and move a few feet away my jawbone loses connection. The bluetooth signal on my iphone 1 is significantly stronger. I’ll speak with the Apple family for a fix tomorrow.
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iPhone 4 problems with Bluetooth headset…yes! Disconnects randomly in the middle of a song and if I’m walking, it disconnects in sync with my steps. Kinda cool remix of every song I own. Genius!
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I bought the new I-Phone 4G and have had no reception problems, but have tried to sync three differennt blue tooth devices with no success, I have tried Jaw-Bone and Platonics, everyone of my friends with I-Phones has the same problem,
Comon Apple-Get your mulit Billion dollar ass moving to corect this problem.
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Well, if you call complete inability to use the ip4 with a new Dell laptop over Bluetooth a problem, well then I’ve got one. I do. No idea how to fix it. Thinking harder every second about returning to my Blackberry Bold. Way less cool, but it worked.
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i’ve been having problems with my iphone 4′s bluetooth when using it in my infiniti g37. the call quality is absolutely atrocious for people i’m trying to speak with (i have no problems hearing them though), it constantly drops calls, and worst off, when a call comes in, not only does the bluetooth system in the car not ring, the phone itself doesn’t ring! the only way i know that i have an incoming call is that the phone vibrates. but that’s useless if i’m trying to listen to music! please fix these issues apple!
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just returned iphone 4, went back to 3g, have two jawbone bluetooths,and would constantly get a un-pair and re-pair tone. Loosing connectivity from the iphone and missing parts of the conversations. Whats bad is I can be 30feet from my 3g, less than 3 feet my iphone4 had connectivity issues. Also when it was conneted the calls would be distorted or muffled on the other callers end. It came to a point where people cringed of my incomming call and the trouble it came with.
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Simply Annoyed said…
I just purchased a 2010 Infiniti g37x…I have a 3GS…Bluetooth worked perfect on my previous car…I just updated to 4.0.2, and now my Bluetooth is no longer working perfectly..when speaking to someone via Bluetooth, I hear them well, by they say I sound like muffled or they only hear every third or fourth word…and when a second call comes in, I get one ring and I see who’s calling and then it goes instantly to voicemail..so I can’t retrieve my call waiting calls….like so many others I spend alot of time in my car and live by my Bluetooth….anyone else experiencing these same issues?
Reply September 09, 2010 at 09:08 AM
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Anonymous Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
@Simply Annoyed,
This is an Infiniti specific issue as they don’t support Bluetooth call waiting in the ’10 & ’11 models regardless of phone model! I hear a fix might be coming though. Check periodically with your dealer
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My wife and I purchased an ip4 and both of us have been hearing people on the other end of the call telling us they can’t hear us while we are on a bluetooth headset. This is completely unacceptable. We also use the bluetooth connection on our vehicles but experience the same issue. We’re also getting weaker signals than our old phones. We get much more dropped calls as well. We took it back to ATT and they did a reset/update et al but it has not helped. When I spoke to the apple customer service a useless rep by the name of Derick told me that since I did not purchase Apple Care they could not exchange the phone for me and I have send it in for 5 days. I inquired as to what am I suppose to use for those 5 days that I won’t have the ip4 and he said pay for the apple care plan insurance first. My God, this phone is only 6 days old!!! What a piece of junk. What is the purpose of having all these fancy apps if you can’t use it as a phone via bluetooth.
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My BT in my car drops all the time but my Bang & Olufsen EarSet 2 works great! It doesn’t lose it’s connection like it does in my car! Is Apple going to fix this or what?
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Yes. I’m having this issue on an iPhone 4. The problem existed with ios 4.0.0, 4.0.1 and still exists in ios 4.0.2. I’ve tried 3 different headsets from 3 different manufacturers. Same problem with all headsets. Randomly, probably about 33% of the time, I get complaints that my voice sounds faint and muffled. For me this can happen on incoming as well as outgoing calls. Sometimes disconnecting the headset and re-connecting the headset, even while still on the problem call, will correct the problem. Sometimes, turning off Bluetooth in the settings menu and turning it back on will resolve the problem. It’s a definite problem. Apple asked that I reset Network settings. This did not resolve the issue. I know some that have returned their iPhone 4s because they use the bluetooth extensively while driving and can’t have call quality problems. Apple needs to address the issue PRONTO!!!
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Yes, bluetooth on the 4G is not good. With the Plantronics Pro, if i initiate the call with my headset paired, then it is clear. If I answer a call then I get complaints that it is muffled and not understandable….although I hear the other party fine. If I use the iphone and have the headset on, the phone will haphazardly switch audio sources to the headset. I had to chunk all of my other bluetooth headsets when I switched to the 3G…that was when I found the Plantronics Pro was a good match.
I have just updated to v4.2.0. Perhaps it will be better.
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I too have Bluetooth errors with my handsfree system in my Infiniti G37 pairing with the IPhone 4. The 3G worked fine, no dropped calls. But now with the 4G when I dial out I hear the phone ringing, the receipient acknowleges the call, Bluetooth disconnects but reconnects and the handsfree states that it is an incoming call!? I speak fast before it disconnects again, or I have to pick up the phone to finish the call via the phone instead of the handsfree Bluetooth. This is not the way it should work, Apple!
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Got iPhone 4 with a Plantronics Voyager 875 stereo Bluetooth. Everyone is complaining that I sound terrible, muffled, talking through a straw. Trying a Jabra with the same results.
Got Apple store to give me a replacement and it paired with the Plantronics fine in the store, but when I loaded all my info from an existing profile in iTunes, Bluetooth problem came back.
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Same issues here… Called Apple, they seemed to be suprised by the problem. Did they not see their own support forum?
We need a fix. It’s the law in some areas to have a hands-free solution. \
I wish they would fix it… Right now, I just wish they would acknowlege it and give us a fix date. It’s time for them to not be so secretive.
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I too am having problems with the bluetooth funtionality. I have 4 including one in the car and all them do not work consistently. People say a I either sound far away or muffled. The most recent update (4.0.1) did not fix the problem either.
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I’m also having bluetooth problems with my new iphone 4 when paired to my 09 Nissan Altima. No problem pairing it but in the course of the day it loses it’s connection multiple times. I hope Apple acknowledges the problem and offers a fix. Otherwise, it will have to go back (shame, too as otherwise I love the phone)
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I have the iphone 4 and love it! I haven’t had the antenna issues that people complain of.
I did just realize that I have a bluetooth problem though! My Plantronics headset sounds terrible to other people. It sounds fine to me, but everyone else says that I sound like I am talking through a tube. Not good!
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Bluetooth is HORRIBLE for me w- my new 4G. I have a new Subaru that my 3G worked perfectly fine with. Now, if I make a call from my car it’s fine on my end, but my friend also w/ a 4G couldn’t stand to have the conversation. I just had a conversation w/ her while she was using the Bluetooth in her Subaru and everyone I spoke it was an echo chamber! Absolutely unacceptable! Guess it’s time to start complaining BIG TIME to Apple!
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I ordered the new iPhone 4 three days ago and was fine with have to put in a case, but if my bluetooth isn’t going to work I’m going to be pist. I also have a car that has wirless calling and works fine with my blackberry. Hope Apple fixes this problem or I will switch back to blackberry.
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I too am having problems with my bluetooth’s. I have two of the Apple ear pieces that
worked just fine till I got the Iphone 4. get people people saying it sounds like I’m in a
Tunnel to them, but my ear piece sounds fine. This is intermittent and sometimes I sound clear as a bell to the listener. I use a bumper case so can’t see how it could
Be a holding issue.
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The problem also exists on 3GS iPhones with the IOS 4 update so it’s gotta be a software problem.
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I have a BMW with an integrated bluetooth phone system and I am unable to linke my iphone 4 with my car. That is, my phone is unable to even identify a signal from my car while my previous phone (blackberry) has no trouble at all. I hope that Apple decides to initiate a recall because I greatly miss being able to recieve and make calls through my car’s phone system.
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