Nokia: 'we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict'
By Chris Ziegler 
posted July 16th 2010 4:36PM
posted July 16th 2010 4:36PM
"Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.
Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.
In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. 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. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design."
I saw that coming ^^
@Twoleaf
expect more to come
@Twoleaf
That's what she said.
@Twoleaf
Everyone and their mother saw that coming.
@Twoleaf
I was wondering if Nokia was going to say something. Nokia makes good phones.
I also think some of the companies might sue for false info giving or something. I know i would be piss. Apple making more enemies
@Twoleaf I've NEVER had antenna issues with my 5800 and E71 EVEN in low signal areas!
@commenter7
They didn't need a statement for that. It's pretty given that Nokia's phones are THE best when it comes to the primary function as a phone. Anybody who says no to that, has almost half of the world's cellphone toting population to prove that to.
But as for the form side, it's very obvious they have neglected it a lot if not totally. They are way behind relatively newcomers to the smartphone field like htc, whose some of the recent phones are much nicer LOOKING than any of Nokia's phones.
I'm still waiting to see what RIM says. Their phone's signal loss is the quickest of all the videos that Apple pointed to.
@Seven2k
Nokia messed up with the external metal antenna thing once before, But apple being apple ignored that and did it themselves and failed lol
@Seven2k
Agreed. If I were RIM or HTC, I would be very angry at how Apple pointed them out. If the tables were turned, Apple would probably file a lawsuit.
Also, I have yet to see phones that suffer from signal loss like the iPhone 4 during normal use.
@Twoleaf infact, did u notice that Steve Jobs mentioned that Nokia had antenna issues but he never used a Nokia handset during the Test of other cell phone reception???
Yup more to come because Steve failed to mention that ALL phones has the signal issue, except that his phone is the ONLY one that drop calls in low signal situation.
That is a low jab stevo.
@statickeith
Same with regards to my 5800 and low signal areas.
As for people looking at the N8 and waiting to see whether the same situation can be said for it, you'll be disappointed.
Plastic end caps with the top for wifi and the bottom for UMTS, GSM.
You'd have to practically completely cover both ends in order to get decent attenuation (as opposed to putting a pinky on a seam LOL)
@Twoleaf
Thanks Nokia and no, your phones are't bad looking at all. And they don't scream out "I'm an attention slut, and need others' approval of my looks."
Apple and their pathetic display of other handsets losing signals. I have tried everything with iPhone 3G and never lost a single bar. So I'm assuming that they don't know the different between shielding an antenna and touching it. I hope they are found to be liers and taken to court so they can learn that they are not Gods. I'm glad it's coming here late and even then I won't buy it unless it's a fixed version, and by fixed I don't mean rubber case. Thanks crApple
@furquanatique
LOL. Good one
@Twoleaf I
@Twoleaf
im sorry but i have an iphone 4 and get the bar drop issue ONLY IF I TRY TOO...
@Twoleaf I don't really see why one would have to sacrifice design for performance, just look at the Evo, it has accomplished both... But in the event that a choice had to be made, of course you would choose performance. What good is a porsche with a faulty engine?
so apple how does it feel?@Twoleaf
@Twoleaf
lol seriously, I call this a cheap shot :P
@who said what
Actually, Nokia did need to say something but I don't think talking about just the antenna performance cuts it. A focus on what they're doing about they're smartphone initiative would have been better suited.
@Twoleaf
Apple tried to cheeky b****slap someone else for it's own problem. Now the issue is big and it will continue to grow.
Probably one of the worst conferences I've seen.....
well, since the T.O's conference in front of his house while working out. ;)
@Plazmic Flame
Nokia Capital markets day 2009 check it out.
@Twoleaf
I think we can agree design is a big part of iphone's selling point... (while reception's not lol) so of course they would put more weight on the "design".
Would the people who buy iphone still will buy an iphone if it's the design is ugly and without fashion? (aside from fanboys)
@statickeith
He was sticking to comparing phones that aren't hemorrhaging market share.
@Seven2k Why would they sue? Apple didn't say anything false. Nokia confirmed exactly what Apple said. Nokia's spin, however, is that they are sure to place the antenna in a better spot so you don't have to "avoid holding it there" quite as much.
@Twoleaf
Next up are RIM, hTc and Samsung.
I will be returning my phone 4 for captivate this sunday.
lol i love nokia cell phones every other cell phone Ive had besides Nokia's get sucky reception i almost always had full reception even on metro pcs and while i was in Florida but now i have a blackberry flip and my reception is usually like 3 bars even in San Francisco ugh terrible lol but i love blackberry's they just need better antenna's lol
@statickeith Same. As much as I try to cover the antenna of my 5800 (lower part of the phone) with my hands, I can't get a single bar to drop. The only way I got it to drop bars was with some aluminum foil. And it still stayed on 3G, but with 1 bar left.
@who said what Thoroughly agree. If you are buying a phone just to make calls, there is zero reason not to go with Nokia. Their lower-end phones are sturdy as hell. I would say my first eight mobiles were all Nokia.
@Twoleaf "Yeah apple how to you like getting a beating when you're already down" - said Vista.
@guitarkid
Never tried the foil thing before, though i have covered it and my head with a pillow to see what would happen.
@who said what
Looks like there is "problems" with nokia phones too.... wow!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi1gHDa7-X0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP_A2aVJhVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7RR0AnSMGo
More examples of this to be found if you care to look it up.
@Twoleaf
Apple don't dare test a Nokia phone.
@Twoleaf
Yep, too bad they don't prioritize a good OS over their ridiculous pride.
@MayorBloomberg
I would cling to each word Steve said and have him prove that the phones he mention do the EXACT same thing the iphone 4 does. Now he might have Nokia, RIM, and HTC customers second guessing that brand so his brand wont fall in sales. He could of done the test with phones and not mentioned the names.
I hate to use this example but what if toyota said all cars experience this and went on and showed Ford, BMW, and Nissan. I know its not peoples lives but still using the name of the companies something just doesnt seem right to me. if im wrong im wrong. Its only a blog.
@colalover25 please learn proper grammar ffs. reading that was horribly painful for me.
@who said what
RIM the quickest loss?? ridiculous! This is just the quickest display algorithm, apparently RIM has the most honest one!
@Twoleaf
Uhhhhh...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ditto.
@Twoleaf hmm, I wonder if Nokia would ever consider making an Android phone, that could potentially be a nice combo.
@travisonfire
Nope, because Apple would rather not use their phones upside-down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi1gHDa7-X0
@Shadow08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZvCQfQxiPM
Apple is good at throwing stones.
@statickeith
I also have the 5800 (XpressMusic). No signal problems. Also look at where our antenna and GPS is.Held left handed and your thumb would be between them not covering them.
@eddi567 yeah I love how everyone is ignoring this obviousness.
What a mob mentality. Morons.
@jellotime91
im glad somebody said it
everybody is thinking it
get off your high horse nokia
get with the android program
Really petulant Nokia - who's a sore loser?!
@jellotime91 Totally, that's the first thing I thought of when I saw that quote... "Yeah, Nokia? You should prioritize your OS experience a little more, you're getting trounced."
@Twoleaf
I was expecting Nokia to say something along the lines of:
"Nope, try again motherfucka!"
Seriously, I've had a bunch of nokia phones. My first one was a 5190 (yeah, the changeable faceplates) and even without the antenna attached it still made calls like a phone should. Nokia
IMO has better build quality and durability but that's just me. I've never had an iphone and I actually wanted to get one this time around but I think I'll sit this round out.
@Twoleaf It's damn clear crapia prioritizes antenna performance over everything else including a semi-decent OS for their phones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJpEuMidcSU&feature=player_embedded
@hell hound Great video. Here's an example of a company who really lies to and misleads customers. It's not just a case of “sequence shortened”, they've produced a flashy demo video which completely mis-represents the device.