iPhone reception issues plague O2... too (updated with AT&T's response)

It would appear that AT&T isn't the only carrier in the world suffering from a horrible and nagging case of the iPhones. In an interview with the Financial Times, O2 head Ronan Dunne apologized to customers for the poor performance the network has been experiencing since the introduction of the iPhone 3GS to its airwaves this summer. Just as US customers (particularly those in dense, urban areas) have learned to struggle through dropped calls, the inability to make or receive calls, or weak data connections, our brethren on the other side of the pond have felt a similar sting. Says Dunne, "Where we haven't met our own high standards then there's no question, we apologise to customers for that fact," adding that the carrier had fixes at the ready and that the issues would be "more than addressed" shortly. Unlike the widespread problems here, the O2 mess seems to be relegated largely to London, though it's curious to know that AT&T isn't alone in being hamstrung by a network clearly not prepared for the onslaught of data being pushed up and down its virtual pipes. Also unlike the AT&T situation is the fact that O2 has solutions in mind (including the installation of 200 additional mobile base stations in London), and they're clearly taking ownership of the situation. Ahem, Ralph.

Update: AT&T responded and let us know they had fixes underway too. Here's an outline of forthcoming changes the carrier says it's making.

• We are nearly doubling the wireless spectrum serving 3G customers in hundreds of markets across the country, using high-quality 850 MHz spectrum. This additional spectrum expands overall network capacity and improves in-building reception.
• We are adding about 2,000 new cell sites, expanding service to new cities and improving coverage in other areas.
• We're adding about 100,000 new backhaul connections, which add critical capacity between cell sites and the global IP backbone network.
• We're enabling widespread access to our Wi-Fi network – the largest in the country with more than 20,000 hotspots in all 50 states – allowing them to take advantage of the best available AT&T mobile broadband connection.
• We're rolling out even faster 3G speeds with deployment of HSPA 7.2 technology, with initial availability in six markets planned by the end of the year.

[Nikolay Posted Dec 29th 2009 3:32PM]

I think it is time somebody to confirm that the 'King is Naked". As only AT&T carries the phone in the states all the fingers are pointed to AT&T. I did have (and still have) the iPhone 3GS in New Zealand. I did use it on the both Vodafone and Telecom NZ. It is an awful phone. The reception is unacceptable with the both carriers. The battery life is pathetic. The dropped calls are rule. I did retire my shiny new iPhone 3GS and for the moment stick with my trusted BlackBerry.

Sorry, I've been an "Apple man" for many years - for all its sleek interface iPhone is a bad phone. If you use it as mini-iTablet, you may never realize this. As soon it become available of Verizon and the other carriers in the states, this will become glaringly obvious.

[InnocentEd Posted Dec 29th 2009 4:21PM]

How anyone could possibly think it is anything other than a shitty product from Apple (THE iPHONE) is beyond me at this point.
At least 50% of people I know personally bitch about the damn thing there are 500 posts a day about how it drops every other call and networks are biting their tongue because loads of sheep still buy these damn things its like a world in crack and nobody gives a damn that its killing them all....

Amazing

[logicbombde Posted Dec 29th 2009 6:46PM]

@InnocentEd

It could possibly be, and bear with me here because this will blow your fucking mind, the fact that for some people, the iphone works perfectly with their network where they live and they very rarely drop a call.

[DariaMorgendorffer Posted Dec 29th 2009 5:03PM]

My 3GS works fine both in Birmingham (where I live) and north London (where my parents live)...oh wait, I DON'T have O2.

Seriously, people who use O2 need their heads checked - their customer service alone is always reaching new heights in terms of rudeness and uselessness, even unsurpassed by fiery competitors such as Orange and those nosey T-Mobile jocks

[Lundmark Posted Dec 29th 2009 5:21PM]

Our iPhones work great in Sweden. Of course it's your shitty US networks.

[deedelvis Posted Dec 29th 2009 5:47PM]

Speaking as an O2 sim only customer with an unlimited data plan and a non-Iphone user not based in london. I've had hardly any such extreme issues, Mind you The Areas I tend to be are both Aberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland.

The Phone I do use, is an HTC kaiser/TYTNII (AT&T have the same model stateside called the Tilt). and Having had it for 2+ years after buying outright. Earlier this year I bought an Xperia X1 as an "upgrade", however it proved inferior to the Kaiser in a number of ways which I won't go into extreme detail about here...

The thing that did drive me back to the Kaiser once and for all was that it is able to keep hold of (O2) HSDPA signals a lot better than The Xperia can. signal wise, for every bar I'd have on the Xperia, the Kaiser would have at least 2 more.

Also as far as data connectivity goes, with my kaiser if it has 1 or 2 bars of HSDPA coverage it's able to keep a hold of them better. However With My Xperia, if it has 3 bars of HSDPA or Lower it will WITHOUT FAIL always drop to Edge or GPRS some point after connection!! Speaking as a non-tech journo or blogger (not by any means), Could it be that some phones/telephonic devices are better at keeping hold of voice or data connections better than others? I've never used an Iphone but my experience with these 2 winmo devices seem to prove it. Mind you this is something that can only be concluded by someone who has regular experience of using different telephonic devices at various intervals (ie a tech journo) . Compared to the general public who are stuck to only using one device over a long periods thanks to 1-2 year contracts issued by carriers worldwide.

I will state that living in Central Edinburgh, Getting a HSDPA data connection indoors is Nigh on impossible largely thanks to the Rock Solid dense under & over-arch structure of Old and new town Buildings, which i don't consider that much of a disaster. But just about anyone I know on other carriers and devices seem to have this issue sometimes even losing signals altogether.

bizarrely the only times I've never been able to access the mobile web with signals is during at half time during football matches in Aberdeen. =/

[TheBrizz Posted Dec 29th 2009 5:58PM]

It's not the phone; I've had an iPhone since August and have dropped, at the absolute most, two or three calls. I live in a good signal area where I've never had any issues with drops, and have seen no difference since getting the iPhone.

[mtnDewFTW Posted Dec 29th 2009 6:02PM]

I love the iPhone, but FUCK AT&T.

[tdc129 Posted Dec 29th 2009 7:14PM]

I have to say that I carry an iPhone and the new Blackberry Curve and lately when I have an issue with my iPhone I can pick up my Blackberry and have no issues. It's nice to see O2 trying to own up to teh problems, but its probably the same as it is at AT&T....there is a gag order on saying anything negative about Apple or its products. If you take a look back at all the recent press...AT&T never mentions anything negative about the iPhone...because they can't.

[Reyptrain Posted Dec 29th 2009 9:15PM]

Love the photo.

[DreamcastDC Posted Dec 29th 2009 9:33PM]

Of course its not just AT&T its a iPhone Design flaw, Apple put the antenna at the bottom of the phone, so if you are in a weak signal area, you calls will keep dropping.

[HTCS60Junkie Posted Dec 29th 2009 10:48PM]

The iPhone lovefest on Engadget is enough to make me throw up my lunch. Why don't they do a editorial bashing Apple for making the worst radio firmware and antenna out of all the Smartphones on the Market? Now it's O2's fault and AT&T's fault but not Apple's? Absolutely ridiculous. Makes me happy I'm one of the "few" WinMo users. I have no call or data issues with AT&T and I just did a San Diego-NYC Road trip,

[Thor e Posted Dec 29th 2009 11:44PM]

iphone is not a good device. It's terrible quality preceeds it. I'm not sure how many stories of poor performance showing style over substance it's going to take for the general public to understand this.

When I had my 3Gs it dropped atleast 3-4 calls per day and important ones where people would think I was hanging up on them.

With so many better devices I would just skip the iphony all together.

[jdgrichardson Posted Dec 29th 2009 11:53PM]

Had noticed this... Service has been rubbish for months. Not just on London, either... I live in Cambridge and I've had problems fo ages!

[Nick9283 Posted Dec 30th 2009 3:00AM]

At least they pumped some money into it to try and fix it

[VipPatel85 Posted Dec 30th 2009 4:35PM]

I agree... Switching to Verizon soon

[ebgolfin Posted Feb 24th 2010 2:48PM]

Weird, I live in a fairly urban area and have had zero issues in 3 years with the iPhone (both 2G and 3GS flavors). My old Razr and Nokia brick didn't have issues either. No dropped calls, no static, and fast downloads. I will also say that my signal strength inside of buildings has steadily increased over the years, although I'm sure that is just attributed to AT&T's increasing coverage. I remember there being certain dead spots inside my home with my Nokia, and then to a lesser extent the Razr and 2G iPhone. The 3GS maintains a strong signal everywhere inside now.

As such, I have a hard time believing there is something inherently wrong with the iPhone so long as its used in an area with proper capacity and coverage. I also don't believe that the behavior of terminating data connections to save battery life is unique to the iPhone. It's just the scapegoat because there's a ton of them out there and it's an extremely polarizing product. Let's face it, most nerds hate the iPhone because they don't have enough "choice".