Apple Testing Firmware Fix for iPhone 3G Problems
Date : 14 Aug 2008 Category : Technology
NewsFactor NetworkThe glitches are reportedly related to a chip inside Apple's music-playing cell phone. Apple reportedly plans to remedy the woes through a software upgrade. That would mean avoiding a product recall that could be costly for both Apple and AT&T.
The news aligns with one financial analyst's suggestion that the iPhone issues could be a problem with the communications chip. Richard Windsor, a financial analyst at Nomura, wrote in a research paper about similar complaints with 3G phones launched in Europe five years ago.
"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 asserted. "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."
Yet More iPhone 3G Speculation
Ny Teknik, a Swedish engineering magazine, claims it has a report on tests conducted by unnamed experts that proves some iPhone 3G handset sensitivity is below the 3G standard mandates.
According to the report, the most likely cause of the 3G problems is defective adjustments between the antenna and an amplifier to capture weak signals from that antenna. The result: poor 3G connectivity and slower data speeds.
Infineon could not immediately be reached for comment on the possibility that its chip could be the cause of 3G reception woes. Apple has not yet acknowledged any issues with its latest handset. AT&T issued a statement saying, "Overall, the new iPhone...