The iPhone 4 that hits Verizon Wireless stores next month won't be plagued by the antenna problems that caused red faces at Apple last summer, photos of the unreleased device suggest.
That's the opinion of an expert on antennas who noticed a different configuration in the images of the new device. Engineer Spencer Webb told Computerworld that there appear to be two cellular antennas in the device's stainless-steel frame, compared to one in the original iPhone 4 that has been sold since June by AT&T.
Dual Antenna?
The iPhone 4's unique design has the antenna contained in the frame to make it thinner. On AT&T's GSM model, the left side of the iPhone contains an antenna used for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS, while the right side is for cellular connectivity. Holding the phone with fingers touching the lower left side causes a bridge between the two antennas that caused reception bars to drop and inhibited performance, some customers complained.
But slots in the band suggest that, in the CDMA version of the iPhone, the band is broken into four segments, with a cellular antenna on each side.
"They've moved things around, and my guess is that they went to a dual [ceullar] antenna," Webb told Computerworld.
In its year in review, CNN called Apple's Antennagate the number-one Tech Fail of 2010, and Consumer Reports has declined to recommend the iPhone 4 because of it. Apple initially downplayed the problem, insisting that less than one percent of users experienced trouble and told them to try holding the device differently.
Apple later said the problem appeared worse than it is because of a software issue that affected how the device calculated the display of reception bars. Then the company offered a free bumper case to cover the antenna bands, or a refund to those who had already purchased cases. Sales exploded, with 1.7 million sold in just the first three days, regardless of the bad press.
In response to our inquiry, Verizon spokesperson Albert Aydin commented on the antenna design.
'Optimized' for CDMA
"The iPhone for Verizon has been optimized to work on our CDMA network," Aydin said. "We expect iPhone for Verizon customers to have the same great calling experience they would have on any of Verizon's 3G CDMA devices. I can't speak on the topic of the GSM build or other versions that are in the marketplace since I do not have that knowledge."
Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison said, "iPhone 4 has a great antenna that allows it to have an amazingly thin design, great battery life, and reception. We designed the iPhone 4 external antenna to work great on Verizon's CDMA/EVDO network."
Avi Greengart of Current Analysis attended the Verizon launch event in New York City and had a chance to try the new device.
"I tried attenuating the signal by bridging the gaps with my fingers during the demo session after the launch, but was unable to replicate the problem," he said. "However, the signal strength in the room was exceptionally high -- Verizon Wireless obviously wanted to ensure its network would be presented in the best possible light."
In "real-world conditions," he said, it's possible that signal strength could be different, which would mean the iPhone could be a boon not only to Verizon but to bumper-case makers. But Greengart is doubtful that will happen.
"Antennagate, while describing a real phenomenon, still seems to have been more of a press attack on Apple than a significant consumer concern," he said.
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