Analyst: Infineon chipset possible cause of iPhone 3G issues
The 3G reception problems that iPhone 3G owners have experienced might be chipset-related.
(Credit: CNET)A financial analyst believes Apple's iPhone 3G reception issues may be the result of some faulty chips.
Richard Windsor of Nomura published a research note (spotted at GigaOm) Tuesday singling out the iPhone 3G's chipset, made by Infineon, as the probable culprit for the reception problems we reported on Monday. The dropped calls, service interruptions, and abrupt network switches experienced by iPhone 3G users reminded Windsor of similar complaints five years ago, when 3G phones were first launched in Europe.
"We believe that these issues are typical of an immature chipset and radio protocol stack where we are almost certain that Infineon is the 3G supplier," Windsor wrote. "This is not surprising as the Infineon 3G chipset solution has never really been tested in the hands of users. Some people will not experience these problems as it is only in areas where the radio signal weakens that the immaturity of the stack really shows."
The problem for Apple is that if Windsor's theory is correct, that would mean a firmware upgrade is unlikely to solve the problems, he wrote. The problems might be confined to a certain build of iPhones, or a certain batch of chips, but "this shows the risk of not going with a tried and tested solution."
An Infineon spokesman declined to comment on anything iPhone related, but said he would check into whether the particular chipset used in the iPhone 3G had been used in other phones. Apple has refused to acknowledge any issues with the iPhone 3G.
Tom Krazit, a staff writer for CNET News, focuses on all things Apple. He has covered traditional PC companies such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard, chip companies such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, and mobile computers ranging from Research In Motion's to Palm's. E-mail Tom.
I never had all of these problems with my Blackberry. The iPhone is a mess.
I never had these problems with my 3G iPhone. have you ever owned a smartphone at all?
Sound familiar? You might want to check when Windsor retracted that erroneous report as well to his clients, to assure them that 1) he was wrong about the chemical composition of the iPhone screen 2) he was wrong about the screens failing within 4-6 months.
Oh, nevermind, he didn't.
Everyone send Steve and email. There is a link that proves he listens!
Cnet, if the post of my site is not allowed I apologize. I AM directing all traffic from my site and forums to your site for your MHz test.
Keep us all posted on any info! Your're great!
Seriously, this kind of response is old and proven not to work.
If the problem were exclusively with a carrier, all phones of that carrier would have issues. This is not the case.
The most likely situation is a combination of poor coverage (especially in places where the AT&T map shows coverage) combined with a weaker-than-most 3G antenna in the iPhone.
Yeah, and I remember when you would be using the huge old brick cell phones and you'd get 100 miles out of the city and it would lose service. Just as unbelievable.
Analysts track the industry closely, I'm glad someone finally shed some light into this. Apple needs to recognize this problem and fix it.
I support iPhone users in the Enterprise and not one has an issue with battery life when it comes to the 3G. Anyone telling different does not know what they are talking about.
You don't know what YOU are talking about.
make that 2,999,998 "serious problem" at most. My wife and I are having no problems with 3G iphones so far. How scientific was your poll of the 3 million users?
PUFF !!
Here are the real questions:
How many people are complaining about this problem?
Is it a dozen loud complainers?
Is it 1% of owners? 10%? 20% 50%?
Is CNET going bananas about a problem that is not widely occurring?
Are you guys being alarmist ?
I don't think anybody is being alarmist, except you.
Since finding out, that the antenna is at the bottom of the Iphone. When turning the phone around, my signal increases to full reception.
I have to say, I have been dealing and fixing mobile phones for years. This is the first time I have come across, an antenna installed at the base of the phone. Where the users hand is placed sheilding the signal, from working. This phone was tested on the Optus 3G 2100 Network Toowoomba QLD Australia.
That doesn't even include all the terrible issues I've had with the half baked mess that is MobileMe.
I work in technology, and understand it's not perfect. But that does not excuse what is obviously an attempt by Apple to capitalize on the iPhone's success and turn out a sub par product.
Come on Apple, admit there's a design issue with this phone, the longer you wait the more of these lemons there will be out there for you to replace.
On the fence about whether or not to get one? DON'T!
I refuse to use my contacts at Apple corporate to get the help I need, but never get from Apple support. Because I want to see what a normal customer would have to suffer through with this product. My experience will heavily influence my future personal and professional purchases, as well as whether or not I continue to be a shareholder.
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by Seaspray0
August 13, 2008 10:47 AM PDT
- "Apple has refused to acknowledge any issues with the iPhone 3G". What!?!?! Did they hire the PR guy from the tobacco company?
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