iPhone 4 may have permanent design fix already

Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar in an investor note today made the potentially large claim that Apple already has a permanent design fix for the iPhone 4 antenna issues that prompted a sudden press conference this week. Checks through suppliers hint that Apple has a design fix that "more adequately insulates the transceiver module" through what's described as an "internal bumper" that shields it without affecting the look. Independently, Kumar believes Apple will give its bumper cases out for free as a stopgap for early adopters, although he wouldn't speculate whether Apple would recall earlier models.

Apple hasn't commented and isn't expected to have any more statements until its Friday media session.

Rumors have persisted almost since launch that Apple might already have a fix and is simply waiting on later production runs to solve it. A coating has been raised as a possibility, although as the problem is triggered by the electricity from fingers, such a solution isn't certain.

A fix could be urgent to prevent an image problem for Apple that cuts short its iPhone sales. Many now don't believe its initial claims that it was simply a signal reporting issue, and the flaw has now reached the mainstream media through David Letterman, the BBC's Top Gear and advertising from rivals like Motorola.

By Electronista Staff