RIM, Nokia fire back at Apple’s device antenna claims

By Murad Haddad, B2P
Published on Saturday July 17, 2010 at 10:51 am ET
Updated 07-17-10, 11:00 am ET

During Apple’s held press conference yesterday that explained the antenna issues with the latest iPhone 4, the company alleged other smartphones also have similar connectivity issues if the devices are held in certain ways.

Apple specifically made these claims against Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the BlackBerry, including other top phone makers like Nokia, Samsung, and High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC).

Today, both Nokia and RIM published statements debunking Apple’s claims against their products.

 RIM’s official statement today came from company co-founders and chief executives, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis.

RIM said, “Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”

RIM went on to say, “RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity.”

Nokia’s statement was just as firm.

Nokia explained loss of antenna performance hence connectivity issues could occur if any device is held with a tight grip, however, the company further explained in its statement, “That’s why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand.”

Statements from both Samsung and HTC are expected this Monday.

To remedy the antenna issue, Apple has decided to provide free cases to customers.

It is also important to note that as explained by Apple chief executive, Steve Jobs, yesterday during the press conference, less than 1-percent of all iPhone 4 devices have this antenna problem, according to statistics provided by Apple.

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Murad is an engineering graduate from Centennial college in Toronto, Canada. Write to [email protected]
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  • stevet12

    The firm confesses, however that “antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held.” But this, says Nokia, is why its phones are tested for “acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand.”

    So is this the same thing as we are Apple are being accused of. ie if you have a death grip on a nokia phone the bars go down.

    Seems like Steve may have been right. but anyway if you don't like a phone do not buy it or in Apples case take it back for a full refund. Do Nokia offer the same service?

    Just goes to show people who live in glass houses should not throw bricks…

    • https://business2press.com Hercules K

      I mean, if you are lucky enough to get a handset that does not have that problem, the phone really is excellent.

      If you do experience that reception issue, by all means simply return your phone for an exchange.

      Additionally, within the next month, the company should have a fix in the next line of production models…that is why the device is delayed….which is now scheduled for release on July 30th, hopefully it will be fixed by then.

      • stevet12

        I agree, I have had no problems with my Iphone 4 from day 1. It seems that a lot of other people are in the same boat. As to whether the white phone at the end of July will have any improvements? Have to say that seems unlikely. Anyway as we have seen from the hard data presented at the press conference we have only 1.7% of AT&T customers returning their phones because they are unhappy with them. I do not know if there is variation between handsets like there is with say cars – you always hoped to buy one that was not made on a Monday morning or Friday Afternoon.

        So as far as I am concerned the issue around the antenna issue is fixed to the same level as other cell phone manufacturers.

        • https://business2press.com Hercules K

          I plan to buy one when it becomes available in Canada. I can't say for sure it's going to replace by blackberry, but it just might.

    • objectivity

      See, this is at the core of it. Its not the “death grip” as Apple apologists would like some people to believe (or possibly themselves). Consumer Reports, in their video, with an iPhone 4 hooked up to a Radio Frequency Oscilloscope to measure signal attenuation, placed a single finger on the black band on the bottom right side. The signal displayed on the 'scope is shown as dropping rather significantly from a signal touch. I have tried to reproduce this problem on a number of handsets belonging to my friends, HTC, Nokia, iPhone 3GS, and 3G. I could not reproduce the problem. Apple is clearly trying to divert attention from themselves, and it seems in some cases, they have succeeded. For the more informed and well educated however, its a very transparent set of smoke and mirrors from Mr. Jobs again.

  • Vevo23

    I would like to buy it, but i'd have to buy it at the contract free price… which is very expensive…i want a nice new toy! question is…. is it worth buying it contract free…

    @stevet12
    do you think 16GB model is enough, how do you find yours? thx

  • Weezer

    please EXPLAIN to me… what is the problem here???? THERE IS NO PROBLEM… 99% of the iPhone 4s don't have this problem….so what's the issue here? why are we still talking about this?

    • Matt

      Because 1% do have a problem……..

    • stu

      Those stats come from …….who (iApple)

  • http://www.stagweekends.co.uk/blackpool-weekend blackpool weekend

    RIM & Nokia have responded to the evidence presented at the press conference as being false, and that they don’t have similar reception dropout problems.

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