Apple updated its smartphone antenna performance Web page on Wednesday to include Nokia’s N97 mini. Like the other smartphones listed on the page, Apple shows the N97 mini’s signal bars dropping when holding the phone in a normal fashion.
The new video on the Apple Web page shows the N97 mini’s signal strength bars drop from eight down to two over the course of a minute. The demonstration shows yet another smartphone succumbing to the same issue that has been the focus of iPhone 4 complaints, and also underscores the fact that there isn’t any standardization in how cell signal strength is represented from phone to phone.
Apple posted a Web page after holding a hastily organized press conference on July 16 to address concerns over iPhone 4 signal strength issues.
Company CEO Steve Jobs said during the event that most every smartphone is susceptible to signal strength loss when held so the antennas are covered by your hand. Several phone makers responded by implying their phones don’t suffer from the same problems as the iPhone 4.
HTC CFO, Hui-Meng Cheng responded to Apple’s demonstrations by stating “The reception problems are certainly not common among smartphones.” Apple’s antenna Web page also shows HTC’s Droid Eris losing its signal when held normally.
Nokia reacted to Apple’s revelation by stating “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.”
RIM bosses Jim Balsille and Mike Lazaridis were a little more to the point with their comments. “Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable,” they said.
Apple released iOS 4.0.1 to improve the accuracy of the iPhone’s signal strength bars and is offerring all iPhone 4 owners free Bumpers or cases, too.
The Apple antenna Web page now includes videos showing signal bars dropping on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, BlackBerry Bold 9700, Droid Eris, Droid X, N97 mini, and Omnia II.
Video demonstrations of smartphone antenna performance for several company’s phones are available at the Apple Web site.