Sources claim the problem could be fixable

Although the focus of Apple's upcoming iPhone press conference remains unclear, a second source claims the company could be working on a permanent fix for the reception issues. The latest report, published by the New York Times, conflicts with several aspects of an earlier story posted by the Wall Street Journal.

Both reports agree that the antenna issue had been a longstanding problem that emerged well before the handset was shipped to the public. The NYT source claims the problem is related to the interaction between the software and the hardware, rather than a flaw solely isolated to the hardware design.

The unnamed insider also suggests that Apple could presumably fix the issue with a software update that would help avoid dropped calls when the phone is held the wrong way. Such an update could provide more of a true fix than the cosmetic tweak brought with iOS 4.0.1.

The Consumer Reports tests indicated more than just dropped calls, however, as the iPhone 4 "death grip" caused the signal level to drop by as much as 20dB in certain situations. The source points out that well designed software compensates for external factors, although it is still unclear if the software interaction would have any tangible effect on the actual signal strength.

The WSJ source placed blame on Steve Jobs for consciously dismissing the reception issues, as he favored the new aesthetic design. The extent of the signal loss was said to be somewhat difficult to ascertain due to Apple's testing procedures, which shrouded the design and prevented users' hands from coming into direct contact with the stainless steel frame. The company was also accused of only providing a limited number of handsets to AT&T for testing on the network, and in a very short time-frame ahead of the launch.

Apple has yet to publicly disclose any plans to further address the ongoing problem.

By Electronista Staff