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Apple admits iPhone 3G reception problems

Tom Krazit CNET News

Published: 21 Aug 2008 08:35 BST

Apple has finally acknowledged the iPhone 3G's reception issues, confirming that the iPhone OS 2.0.2 software update was designed to fix those problems.

A company representative told the Associated Press that the latest update "improved communication with 3G networks", after weeks of silence regarding the reception issues reported by iPhone 3G owners around the world. Apple was reportedly working on a fix last week, but Monday's update was labelled with the briefest of descriptions — 'bug fixes' — making it difficult to know exactly what was addressed with the update.

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It is not yet clear whether all of the problems have been fixed. Some readers of ZDNet.co.uk sister site CNET News.com have reported a dramatic improvement in their reception, while others have said they are still having trouble maintaining a connection to the 3G network in places said to have excellent coverage.

A former Apple employee, Chuq Von Rospach, reported on his personal blog earlier this week that sources at Apple think it will take several months for a fix to be developed by Infineon, one of whose chips is believed to be the source of the reception problems.

Credit: Apple acknowledges iPhone 3G reception issues from CNET News