Nokia, RIM, HTC, Samsung Return Fire on Apple
Oh, so that's what happens when you try to pass the buck on to your competitors.
Apple held a press conference on Friday morning to address the antenna issues some users have been having with the iPhone 4. In an effort to try and explain away the problem, Steve demonstrated that the same problem occurs when griping several other popular phones. Now, it wasn't the first time Steve pointed out that the antenna issue is not exclusive to the iPhone 4. However, it was the first time he showed few handsets to drive his point home.
Unfortunately, the manufacturers of the phones used in the demo were none to pleased about being "dragged into Apple's self-made debacle," and have issued statements condemning the Cupertino-based company's actions. RIM and Samsung both issued statements on the matter and HTC has spoken publicly about it to the press. Nokia has also released a statement, despite not being included in the demonstration.
Samsung didn't waste any words with its statement. Getting straight to the point, the company clarified that the antenna for the phone Steve used (the Omnia II), is located at the bottom of the handset, but is a good distance away from the user's hand and they've experienced no reception issues so far. The company's full statement (sent to the Korea Herald) is below:
"The antenna is located at the bottom of the Omnia 2 phone, while iPhone's antenna is on the lower left side of the device. Our design keeps the distance between a hand and an antenna. We have fully conducted field tests before the rollout of smartphones. Reception problems have not happened so far, and there is no room for such problems to happen in the future"
HTC was a little more informal, choosing not to release a statement and instead spoke to Pocket-Lint about its product's role in the Apple press conference. The company referred to Steve's 0.55 percent figure, which represents the number of iPhone 4 users experiencing antenna issues, and said they're seeing even less complaints with the HTC Eris. Eric Lin, HTC's global PR and online community manager said approximately .016 percent of Eris users have had antenna problems. Speaking to All Things Digital, HTC had the following to say:
"The reception problems are certainly not common among smartphones. [Apple] apparently didn’t give operators enough time to test the phone."
Even though none of its phones were used in the press conference, Nokia's statement was a little lengthier than that of Samsung or HTC. The company took the time to make sure everyone knew it puts function before form, and even sacrifices design if the two are ever in conflict. The Finnish company also pointed out that it was the first to release a phone with an internal antenna (in 1998), and stated that it has invested thousands of man-hours in researching how people hold phones. Statement below (via Engadget):
"Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.
Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That's why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design."
RIM's response is probably the most acerbic of them all. Criticizing "Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle," the Canadian company dubbed Apple's actions unacceptable. Co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie signed a statement that said RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used for the iPhone 4 and instead opted for ones that result in less dropped calls in areas of lower coverage. Ouchies. Check it out below (via CrackBerry):
"Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."
Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie
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Take that Apple!
ps. You deserved it
Why is it so hard to accept that Apple screwed the antenna.. and dragging other companies into this affair is highly disrespectful.. If any other company had this issue and they dragged Apple into this, I'm sure there would've been a lawsuit... Apple would've sued them...
The apple suckfest continues...skipping their phones even if they were free.
While I agree that Apple needlessly opened a big ol' can of worms by dragging the community into their party, phone reception is affected by being held, or stuck against your head. For most, the signal loss is negligible, but manufacturers want to keep the subject under the rug anyway.
Apple isn't having much luck with new releases of phones. First the debacle over the price drop on the 1'st iPhone, now this.
RIM...couldn't say it any better
+1000
Steve is making all kinds of friends
APPLE- I loved your products since the first Ipod's came out. I love my first generation ipod Touch. Still works great. But not owning up to your mistakes fully, and dragging the other phone manufactuers into your bad design problems is wrong. Re-design the damn antenna and recall the phones. I want one but I'll wait till you get the bugs ironned out first.
Was actually wanting to hear Palm's. They had great Treos with internal antennas.
What's that? HP bought them?
It doesn't matter whether others have the same problme or not. If you have a reception problem because of design flaw, admit and fix it. After that, move on. Don't give the excuse that others have it and you are off the hook. It just makes the matter getting worst!!!
I admit I like Apple's products and innovationgs. However, at times APPLE is just SO full of itself. It looks at itself as infallible, and if it does have "issues", it tries to take others down with them rather than owning up and apologizing to their customers. It's really a wonder sometimes why they're able to get away with these things. Hope the class action against them would somewhat teach them a lesson. But somehow, I doubt it.
I am glad apple is getting all this bad PR, their products are overpriced. The only Apple product I have ever owned is the iPhone 3GS and I will not purchase another apple product.
They sacrifice way to much for the "Apple Cool Factor" This thing is a phone first and should have as near perfect calls before anything else is added. They even used an inaccurate formula for displaying bars are you kidding? anyone who thinks that was a mistake and not intentional doesn't know Corporate america.
I don't like big corporations but Apple(Steve Jobs) is by far the worst, but until people decide that they rather have something that works instead of the next best thing or the coolest looking thing then apple will be able to do this over and over again.
Nice Job RIM. I have to say I enjoyed RIm response, As Well as Nokias. Apple, Needs to fix this, but knowing Apple... Good Luck.
Well you know they screwed up when a major company that wasn't even involved in the smear steps in to smack Apple. Seriously, attacking others for your screw-up, disgusting.
I still don't know why they don't sue apple for making such claims
I still don't know why they don't sue apple for making such claims
Because it is true that every phone has its weak spot.
However, while it is the problem everybody knows in the field, it does not make Apple look right by putting them on the table. Actually it just make Apple look even worse.
The fact is, the new iPhone4 has antenna problem and currently they do not have a fix for it (without a major change on the design)but covering it up with a bumper.
So only few things Apple can do at this moment:
1) "recall": Apple is doing its own way of recall.... by giving a full refund!!
2) Temp fix: well... we all know... the free bumper/case
3) Well... the people who bought the iPhone4 can take whatever it is if they decide to keep it..
I can understand these maybe the only few things Apple can do right at this moment... BUT... dragging other companies down with them.. putting other companies under the bus... is NOT going to make Apple look better... actually just making it worse.
If Jobs is smart he should not say this on the stage.. he should hired some journalists and bloggers to say so... not himself... Like the stupid PR BP CEO have done, this is definitely another textbook example of what should not happen for a good PR.
By the way, one interesting observation:
None the response from these companies actually defend those phones appeared on Apple's press conference. No matter how will they were talking in their response, none of them actually said Apple's test result was actually a lie.
Does that means those signal problems were actually true on those phones?
Just another reason I personally would never buy an IPhone or Apple product. Over-priced, over-hyped. Steve, nice try at pointing fingers. You have a flawed product.
Instead of apple admitting the issue last press conference, it points fingers at other phones.
Well said, RIM.
I've never had an opinion one way or another about apple because ive never owned any of their products. But after seeing how they've handled this relatively small problem, from straight out denying it to now trying to drag other companys down. It's really shed light on how they operate as a business and how they view their customers, i personally will never give them any of my money because of this.
Nicer if all these company say recall is more appropriate, that will force Apple issue a recall instead of hand out a free condom. hahaha
Love. It.
So glad to see Apple being portrayed in the way they should be. I hope the rest of the world is watching and learning. Ladies and Gentleman, we present you Apple, in all its glory.
Way to go tech companies for standing up to Steve "Blow" Jobs!!!
Apple claimed its not unique to the iphone4 which is completely false, show me another phone that drops 20db when held a certain way
how comes steve didn't demo the iPhone superior signal lost to put everything into perspective
Yeah, bringing in other company's products as 'smoke and mirrors' to distract from your own issues is the kind of maneuvering I expect from politicians (both sides do it). It's kinda a lame thing to do in the business world. I know if an OEM customer comes back with an issue with my company's products we work with them to engineer a solution, we don't say "well, our competitor's products do it too! so just deal with it," or "you're using it wrong (even if they might be)."
Nokia's response hits the nail right on the head.
Nokia's answer is most comprehensive and logical of all. But RIM's answer kicks a**!
On my Nexus One with build FRF91 of Froyo my signal strength is usually -90db. When I grip my phone with the so-called death grip the signal strength changes to -93db. I have crystal clear audio on phone calls with this level of signal strength. I guess this shows that Steve Jobs really is a moron.
I think these companies should suit Apple now just to give Apple a taste of its own medicine.
Sounds like other companies are says Hey! You're fancy-schmancy antenna is nothing new; You tout it like it's revolutionary but the truth is, we've considered it and dismissed it and now you know why! It sucks!
And apples fix for the antenna bar problem.. Has anyone read that the phone drops calls now with 2 bars instead of 0 after the update? What a joke.
yaa reeeally mature apple
I like griping (complaining) other phones. That makes sense.