Posts Tagged ‘Antennagate’

Well, my dear XI Fly citiXIns, Steve Jobs has spoken and the word is in…

Apple is offering rubber cases to anyone who has purchased the new iPhone 4 and are experiencing signal loss due to its antenna placement.

When customers and the media brought the antenna issue to Apple’s attention shortly after its release, they were met with a swift “well, you’re holding it the wrong way” antidote.  Adding to this “solution,” Apple also placed blame on the iPhone’s only service provider, AT&T.  However it wasn’t until Tuesday that Apple found itself scrambling when the influential and consumer-friendly magazine, Consumer Reports, completed testing on the new Smartphone that did not meet their recommendations. Apple knew then that they had to resolve this issue promptly, especially when Consumer Reports suggested that iPhone 4 owners use duct tape to alleviate its reception issues.  Collectively Apple’s elite gasped, and somewhere Jobs was completely mortified at the mere thought and visual of his beloved iPhone encased in duct tape.  (Hey!  Duct tape fixes everything, right?)

So, Apple’s CEO ordered a press conference to be given this morning, where many had hoped he would offer some sort of apology to consumers on Apple’s behalf; however, his words were more half-hearted than heartfelt as he tried to appease the public and the media.

“We’re not perfect.  Phones aren’t perfect either, but we want to make all of our users happy…It’s hard to escape the conclusion that there is a problem, but that problem is affecting a very small percentage of our users,” Jobs told reporters.  He also cited that only 0.55% of new iPhone users had called Apple’s tech support, and only 1% more consumers had dropped calls reported to AT&T than its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS.

Jobs speech came after Apple’s opening bit of Jonathan Mann’s “The iPhone 4 Antenna Song” which includes the lyrics: “If you don’t want an iPhone 4 don’t buy it.  If you bought one and you don’t like it, bring it back…but you know you won’t.”  A jab seemingly directed towards the media’s overreaction to the antenna and reception issue.

Apple is now offering a free rubber “bumper” case, retailed at $30, to any customers experiencing these reception issues, or a refund will be given to those who have already purchase the case.  Yet, there was no promise of Apple fixing the hardware and design flaw, otherwise stating that it could possibly ruin the phone’s design aesthetic.

Apple’s To-Do List: Blame customers – check.  Blame AT&T – check.  Hope that the problem goes away – check.  Plan Friday press conference – check.  Make excuses – check.  Dare anyone to return the iPhone 4 – check.  Offer refund and free rubber case – check.  Actually fix hardware and reception issues…

Although Apple has sold 3 million phones in the past 3 weeks it has been on the shelves, Apple has been shifted on its pedestal some.  No, every phone is not perfect, and neither is Apple.  The iPhone is still the leading Smartphone on the market right now, and it will more than likely remain at that number one spot.  However, Apple rushing production on the next big thing in their repertoire will not keep them there.

Apple is a company that has become synonymous with perfected technology, grand style & production, great business savvy, and exemplary products.  Apple does not want to become known as some mediocre company that consumers cannot trust to repair their hardware and design defects (because technology will ALWAYS encounter mistakes and missteps). Nor do they want to become that company who points the finger at everyone and everything else with boastful arrogance.  In the future, Apple must take responsibility for their flaws or shield themselves better from these small blemishes and glitches before they begin to snowball and they indeed become THAT company.

Jobs and Apple should have given a humbling apology, offered a suitable solution that resolves the problem permanently, and began working feverishly on the iPhone 4GS.  But, so much for wishful thinking…

**I only have one question for Apple though… In addition to this new rubber “bumper,” will I still be able to showcase my style with a colorful pink and purple ifrogz case too?**