New iPhone 4 Tomorrow, With Revised Antenna Design?
by Joe White
August 31, 2010
As many of you already know, Apple's latest handset came with an unexpected surprise. No, not the proximity sensor problem - something more malignant: an "antenna issue."
Dubbed "AntennaGate," this iPhone 4 affliction took the tech-world by storm, appearing everywhere; on TV screens, magazines, ads and websites (even here, at AppAdvice) - indeed, everybody was talking about the iPhone's antenna problem.
However, for some time now we haven't heard much mention of AntennaGate. Apple handed out free bumpers, iPhone 4 owners around the world fitted them on their handsets, and the problem (if you even had it) went away, forever.
Today we're hearing more mention of the iPhone's antenna issue once again. And, why? Because the rumor around town is that Apple plans to release a new iPhone 4 handset tomorrow, one that will come complete with a "revised antenna design."
As AppleInsider reports, Marco Quatorze, director of value added services at Telcel (Mexican iPhone carrier), has commented that a new and improved iPhone 4 handset will be available following September 30 - when Apple's free case program ends.
According to Quatorze, this new handset will simply be tweaked to avoid the "death grip" from affecting the iPhone's signal strength. Additionally, it will mean that Apple's free case program (for which the company set aside $175 million) will no longer be needed.
Personally, I'm not sure exactly what to believe. It could well be that Quatorze's comments are inaccurate, however Apple would still be left with the issue of a "faulty" handset and a case program scheduled to expire. Perhaps it's more likely that the company will tweak the design of future iPhone 4 handsets to correct the problem, rather than throwing cash at its free case program.
I guess we'll find out tomorrow, at Apple's Special Event (which we'll be at!). In the meantime, be sure to let us know your thoughts on this bizarre rumor in the comments box at the bottom of this article. We'd love to hear from you!