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."
this is lame move by nokia.
Still why does engadget always try to back up apple i mean always. i know they are owned by AOL but still..... all the time.... come on guys
@zubayer2130
They're simply trying to level the playing field, when Nokia keeps running their mouth about Apple even though they've had their own issues with the same thing.
http://photos.appleinsider.com/nokia.death.grip.001.jpg
Nuff said.
@Jack
Funny because none of those methods of holding your Nokia phone are going to put Android on it. Different companies have different priorities, pride is Nokia's #1 priority.
@jellotime91
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-captivatevibrant-caught-in-grip-of-death/?news=123
@Jack Yes, the added comments by a true Steveist say quite a lot. The most important product of the company is severely flawed in its' most important function by an obvious and known design error, and the loyal customers can't figure out anything else than attacking those who at least try to do better.
Happy Apple customers are indeed a special bunch, although it might be in a different sense they want to think themself.
@Jack
Hey Jack, how are things? Taking your pills in timely fashion? No more foam? Just to remind you Nokia explains this to its customers because it affect battery life as the phone needs to work harder to keep a connection. You will also see there are 2 areas that are indicated, the reason why it wont drop a call when you hold one, and your daddy steve already explained to you that attenuation is universal. You must be an Apple shill.
Nokia: Putting good antennas in Mediocre phones
Good going Nokia. But you should really sue for misrepresentation. I'm sick of Apple trashing every other company even for their own faults.
Nokia may not have the prettiest phones but some, like the E71, are really classy and built like tanks. They're also real work horses and highly reliable as a communications platform.
@ounkeo
See my link above.
@ounkeo
Until the software messes up and you find one day that opening items in the sub menu's stops working.
Besides you need a magnifying glass if you want to use the browser.
Nokia = 3rd rate phones for 3rd world countries!
Fwiw I used to own a nokia communicator. The real brick! It cost me $1000! Back in 2001. That was classic nokia design!
@jaffreywali
i live in first world country with one of the highest quality of life in the world
and if i walk up the busiest shopping street where i live i walk by a nokia store and nokia care point (while there is not a single apple store in my hole country)
so maybe apple should aim for more first world countries
@jaffreywali
I didn't know all of Europe turning to 3rd world countries last month.
Nokia is the most popular brand in terms of quality in Italy. They look very well made compared to anything offered in the USA market.
This may be true, but it's also probably why Nokia are falling behind in the market, the combination of a Poor OS that losing support rapidly and also the fact that their phones are mostly unattractive things to look at.
see picture above for case and point.
Ah, so that's why their phones are so damn ugly.
@spartandre217
Sarcasm Spartandre?
Of course they do....look at their phones, they're hideous!
That's great Nokia but here's the thing... you don't make phones most of us want to buy. I'd rather live with the antenna issues on the iPhone 4, Droid Eris, HTC Evo, BlackBerry Bold, etc instead of using a Nokia phone.
@UptownDonkey
The point is you can at least make great phone calls on Nokia cell phones (which is the entire main reason for having a phone to begin with), which AT&T tried to talk smack about on their antenna page.
@VAVA Mk 2
Sorry I meant Apple (I know some of you lol'd at that though)
@VAVA Mk 2
Really?
http://photos.appleinsider.com/nokia.death.grip.001.jpg
@Jack
Goddammit Jack do you like stalk me or something? Pretty much everyone here is in agreement that while the software might not be the best, Nokia cell phones make good phone calls. Also, Apple is pointing fingers to cover up their mistakes. Stop sucking Steve Jobs' penis for five seconds and think about everything he has said today and the fact they put up a pathetic cell phone antenna guide pointing fingers at other companies. And MY BOLD 9000, which I had when I was last on AT&T, precurssor to the 9700, DOES NOT LOSE SIGNAL with death grip. I guess you like to eat up bull shit a lot though. Start thinking for yourself.
@VAVA Mk 2
Nokia cell phones make good phone calls? Do I need to post the link again? Yes, apparently I do.
http://photos.appleinsider.com/nokia.death.grip.001.jpg
And why would you assume I'm stalking you? Do you really think that much of yourself? But I'll tell you what - stop saying incredibly stupid things and you'll find that I won't respond to you as much.
How's the signal in your area by the way? It's pretty strong where I live, and I can't get my iPhone to drop bars when I'm holding it. No matter how I'm holding it. What does that tell you? "Think for yourself" indeed.
@Jack
I will cut a deal with you. I am not going to say anymore of this issue if you won't. Many people here disagree and agree with both of us in interpreting how Apple handled this whole thing and the fact that since my best friend got his iPhone 4, he has had repeated dropped calls in mid conversation when I am in Charlotte and he is in LA makes me believe there is truth to this as many sites have reported. Regardless, you like what you like, and I what I like. I recognize that and really do not care to argue over Nokia or other phones when the original issue was something else which we will never see eye to eye on. End comment.
@Jack
Hi Jack, thanks for coming back and displaying your frustrated inner self here again. We've had such fun last time. Now, how exactly is signal attenuation in a Noka device, which is universal, equal to dropping calls through severe attenuation and degradation in the Iphone 4? Well?
Why dont you have a nice cup of STFU and call all of your bff's so you can talk about what bad people work at Nokia, world champions of radio technology, and how they dare challenge Mr. Jobs.
Now leave the grown ups here and go play "who has got the same bumper color".
@VAVA Mk 2
Wow, still typing too much, huh?
.
I still won't buy your shitty phone Nokia
@VAVA Mk 2
YES!!! How'd you know?
@HighestRanked2
If it doesn't need a case to work as advertised, they've failed
I don't even get how this got about Nokia suddenly?
Lets remind that Nokia owns 92% of luxury phones. 40% of smartphones. First people complain in here that Nokia phones are too expensive, Nokia sells those 2 millions in first month and then people say that Nokia only sells in 3rd world countries.
This being usa based blog i guess is the best answer to all these silly comments.
Top 5 manufacturers don't even have 10% of smartphone market.
@spartandre217
See you had it in you all along! Now go forth with this gift, leaving people in conversation marveling at your semi-visible wittiness and social commentary!
I was waiting for these companies to complain.
Do so all you want, the truth is, your phones drop more calls than the iPhones.
@Greg7388
Sooooo, I take it you have an iPhone huh
@VAVA Mk 2
THANKS!!! :-)
I have not had any problems yet with my iPhone. Maybe signal is stronger here. I got my iPhone 4 for free at www.superbrainbuster.com. It was easy, I just had to guess the unlock code and I won!
i just love my nokia e ... (one sec have to google) my nokia e61, i never had strange reception issues or such, allways top notch, best phone evaaar!!1 my nokia curve 8520 rulez!
So I assume the brilliant engineer who decided to put the N95's GPS antenna under the numeric keypad has been fired and is now working at Apple?
LMFAO! Nokia, we know you'd rather go with antenna performance than physical design, that's why all ur phones look like crap haha
I was wondering... why did Apple choose the Eris over the incredible? Or N1? or Evo 4g? Droid? Droid X? Maybe it wasn't so radical on these.
Cheap shot Nokia! Perhaps if you made your phones less ugly to look at you would stop losing market share.
@iPhone 4 Yea. Its soo stupid they are choosing function over looks unlike Apple..
@HighestRanked2
I knew it!!! You're just a WUM, you don't care either way!
he he... from nokias e72 manual: "avoid touching the antenna area unnecessarily while sending or receiving data" right alongside a diagram of the phone with two big "no touch zones" highlighted at the top and bottom of the phone.
@nothingreal As a honest question: did iPhone 4 manual have a similar statement? Does it have it now? I'd say statement in Nokia manuals is a sign of honesty, although I've never noticed the grip to actually matter (and trust me, I've have quite a pile of GSM phones, most Nokia, but couple quite good others too).
Using 5 Sony Ericsson phones and 1 Nokia over the last 12 years, I have never had one dropped call. Maybe bad reception at my old house that got the network round for testing and then a big improvement once they made changes.
iPhone 4 should be rebranded as an iPod Touch.
@Wesley
Funny you should mention that. I haven't had any dropped calls on my iPhone 4 either. You learn something new every day.
@Wesley, you mean iPod don't Touch! ;)
It's like i always say.
Nokia builds great phones.
Apple builds great toys.
Apple has never put voice quality first on their priority list.
Nokia as of recently hasn't put software first.
It's a lose lose battle.
But after all, a phones main function is talking.