The iPhone: 3G speed and reception issues

Empirical evidence: I work for a software firm that produces software for dozens of phones. My iPhone has ZERO bars at work, while a MOT q9h sitting right next to it has full bars.

Secondly, when I was in a bldg the other day (a theatre), I tried to surf during intermission. Couldn't get s signal. Tried calling, as a test. Nothing. Saw a Treo 750 about 15 feet away get a call, no problem.

I would definitely say there is an issue. Additionally, one need only look at the Apple support forum to see hundreds of posts on this issue. (Note that some threads have been closed because they were so long that it was crashing browsers, apple says, anyway).

Empirical evidence, the fact that I work for a company that produces software for dozens of mobile phones, and that at work my iPhone has ZERO bars (but I can still get calls) while my q9h has full bars ...

Also, at a concert, I saw a Treo 750 get a call (during intermission) while I had no connectivity at all.

One need only look at the hundreds of comments at the Apple support forums to confirm this is fairly widespread. Note that some threads were closed because they were (apple says) overwhelming the system and browsers due to length. So don't be fooled, there are older threads with replies approaching 1000.

We just bought a batch ~20 iPhones for corporate use. They are practically worthless for data unless we connect to local wifi or disable 3G.

I definitely have this problem. Yesterday I was not able to make a call (had no bars at all) in the middle of a big downtown shopping mall, right between Apple and AT&T stores. Also, in other places I am barely getting one or two bars, while with the previous version of iPhone I had no issues like that at all. Switching the 3G off immediately adds a couple of bars. I am on AT&T network in Seattle.

More often then not I have low to zero bars when on 3G, After reading that Our AT&T CEO has stated that the phones are working great on the 3G network I have decided to go into the store and complaining. Suggest all in the U.S. report their problems so AT&T have to admit to a problem.
I am in the West Chicago burbs.

This connection problem is widespread. I have had my phone for weeks and have been fighting dropped calls and no signal. But..... when my brother picked his up yesterday the AT&T rep told him to only use 3G for internet and to shut OFF 3G when using the phone to make calls. WHAT THE HEAK IS THAT!!!! Shame on you AT&T and Apple for not admitting your issues.

I love the everything about my iPhone except for the phone.

I've had a new iPhone for about a week. I get terrible reception - usually one bar. At lunch yesterday I had one bar and the other 9 folks at 3 or more - including another iPhone 3G user.

Maybe Apple should have called it iDoNotPhone.

I'm the Chief Information Officer for a large organization and I've asked my team to immediately stop buying these devices.

I have the same problem...I called AT&T and their solution was to shut the "3G" functionality off on my iPhone "3G". So, I guess it's actually an iPhone "wannabe 3G" that just hit puberty and isn't quite sure which way it's going to go from here. Now with the "3G" turned off on my iPhone "3G" I actually get decent service...but feel like there's 0 value to owning a "3G" version of the phone. I was doubtful about getting AT&T service, but was willing to go with it to get the new iPhone. I'm still going to be a Mac user, but unfortunately for AT&T (even if it is actually an iPhone issue), my disgust with AT&T has grown. Oh well...it's only a $175 cancellation fee that scales down over time...there will be other options that are better in the near future. Hopefully Mac steps up and fixes this, and AT&T steps up and recognizes that their service is sub-par at best. When is Google going to launch an open cellular network?

Same issue here, 3G has Zero bars and almost zero connectivity. Shutting off 3G and running Edge give full bars and standard edge connectivity. 3G should really be called NFG, I expect way better testing and performance from Apple.

When I originally purchased my 3g iPhone, I noticed that the reception was spotty. I did not leave the store, and showed it to an apple genius there. He showed me his iphone and had 3-4 bars while I had just 1. We chalked it up to a bad iphone, and he swapped it out. Same issue. He then swapped it out one more time, and on the 3rd try, the reception was considerably improved. I have not had nearly the same amount of trouble with my 3g connectivity as it seems some have, but I attribute that to the fact that I went through 2 other phones prior to getting one that actually seemed to have decent reception. I do, however drop calls more frequently than I did with my previous phone.

My main complaint with the 3g iphone is the buggy software. I originally had a first generation iphone, and the software from about 1.02 on was solid. Ever since the upgrade to 2.0 I have had numerous crashes and had to restore the phone so many times I've lost count. The iphone 2.0/3g launch has been marred by so many glitches that it really has made me lose faith in my phone. Prior to the 2.0 software release, I was an iphon fanatic. Since 2.0, my frustration level continues to rise. I just hope that one of these software updates will resolve the problems I'm having, and provide some much needed missing functionality. The main problems I have experienced are:

* App Crashing and the $300 brick It seems that about 75% of the time I try to install software from the appstore, my iphone locks up then reboots itself. After it starts to reboot, it sticks at the Apple logo... forever. I've left the thing overnight just to find that D@$# silver apple logo still there in the morning. The only fix is to restore the software in itunes. A very lengthy process if you want to reinstall your apps and copy music/media. I have also had this happen a few times when just using applications and not installing anything. That is much less frequent, but it still causes much gnashing of teeth.

* Extremely poor battery life. Prior to the 3g phone, I was able to use my 1st gen iphone for 2 to 3 days without charging. Now I have to charge every day... sometimes before the work day is even over.

* Extreme Keyboard Slowness. I was pretty hesitant about the on-screen keyboard when the iphone was first released, but my concerns were quickly dispelled when I started using the first generation device. The keyboard was very responsive, and the autocomplete was exceptionally accurate. Not so after the 2.0 update. Now the keyboard is very laggy and has a tendency to stick keys so you end up typing like ttttttttthhhhiiiiiiiiiisssss. Subsequent updates have improved this a bit, but the performance is still a far cry from what it was in the 1.4 software revision.

My other frustration is that we're now up to 7 or 8 updates of the iphone software, and there are still some significant features missing from the phone. When I say they are missing, what I mean is that these are features common in phones that cost less than $100. Features I REALLY want to see in the iphone sooner rather than later:

* MMS Messaging (Picture TXTs) We're over a year into the iphone's lifecycle, and it still can't send/recieve picture messages??? It's got a camera, it's got SMS what's the deal?

* No video recording Again, this is a feature I had in my old LG phone that was FREE. What's the deal apple? Let me take video with my phone. I don't expect it to be of great quality, but give us something!

* Cut and paste OMG give me cut and paste.... It's absurd I have to write things down on a piece of paper to transfer information from a text message to my email... or whatever. Get with the program!

* Crippled SMS They finally added the ability to send TXT messages to more than one contact earlier this year. That's a start. But why can't I forward txts?

* Voice dialing Given that the iphone has a complete touch screen interface, it's rather difficult to navigate the menus without taking your eyes off the road if you're driving and have to make a quick phone call. The addition of voice dialing would really make the phone a lot more usable both in the car, or when you are using a headset and have your phone out of reach.

So in conclusion.... Apple, I love my iphone, but please please please fix these problems and add features that are included in much cheaper phones.

I just got one yesterday to replace my Blackjack (original). No question this is a huge problem. I had "full bars" at home with my Blackjack - and have either one or none with the iPhone. I'll leave it on Edge for now but they have 30 days or I'll return it and get a Blackjack II.

I still have issues with 3G connection! Very poor Signal at Home and Work! I pay $30 month to keep my iPhone 3G running....

I still have issues with 3G connection! Very poor Signal at Home and Work! I pay $30 month to keep my  3G running....