Have reception problems taken the shine off the iPhone 4?
Apple's latest object of desire, the iPhone 4, seems to have become rather less desirable as a result of the recent well-publicised reception problems.
A survey suggests more than a quarter of potential buyers are now having second thoughts, and almost 60% of consumers are giving the new model the thumbs-down..
London-based Opinium Research asked consumers how they'd reacted to the recent publicity, and discovered that 57% of all consumers, and 83% of existing iPhone owners, were aware of the coverage given to the reception issue.
As a result, 26% say they're now less likely to move to an iPhone 4, and 57% told the survey they have no intention whatsoever of buying the product. That means just 17% of all those surveyed are still definitely interested.
And it seems even among the Apple faithful second thoughts are being had: 45% of iPhone 3GS owners said that the recent media coverage has made them less likely to buy or upgrade to an iPhone 4.
Opinium Research MD James Endersby commented that 'With 90 per cent of iPhone owners stating that they are satisfied with the level of service they receive, it's interesting to compare how few people would now purchase an iPhone after the media attention surrounding the antenna fiasco.'
Comments
I currently use a works phone, but will be giving it up soon and need to buy my own. Despite the reception publicity I am still heading off to buy one. I use a touch, which I can sell as the iPhone can do the music side for me. Love the new shape.
I am also getting an iPad. My mate has had one since launch and I think it's a great piece of kit. In fact, at the moment I know more people getting an iPad than an iPhone. it's 4-1 to the iPad.
since the iphone is so much more expensive than anything else on the market (HTC desire for example) i would expect it to be perfect and it`s not.Why would any purchaser put up with this. Time to move over to android.
Picked up mine nearly two weeks ago and it's miles better the my old 3GS! Screen, processor speed AND reception!
The case is tougher and better designed too! If you're interested in getting an iPhone 4 go for it, dont go with Orange and get a cooling off period so you can try it for yourself.
I wasn't dissapointed.
What iphone 5?
JoelSim July 27, 2010 23:47
Eye fatigue? Huh?
Yeah, with a mobile browser as good as an iPhone it's much easier to browse the web from the sofa with your phone than getting out the laptop. After tooling 'round the net for a couple of hours on the old phone (especially in dim light) your eyes would feel a bit fatigued (even with my laptop which has a similar pixel density to the old iPhone). With the new higher resolution screen text looks more like a printed page and fatigues less during long sessions reading. Because of this I am now enjoying reading e-books on it, something I experimented with but never got into on the old phone.
really not bothered. All phones have their glitches. Mine is on order and i cant wait.
Id swap my 3GS for a 4 in a heartbeat but I'm not willing to hive orange the money they want for the upgrade.
Eye fatigue? Huh?
Well I've got one. I'm able to replicate the reception issue though have never had it affect me in normal use. Either way I still get a free case now as well. Aside from the reception issue that doesn't really affect me, the phone is absolutely brilliant. The camera is a welcome upgrade as is the HD video recording, but the most amazing upgrade is the screen. Text is so finely rendered and it makes a really palpable difference to eye fatigue when reading on it for long periods of time. I definitely wouldn't trade it in for anything else out there.
how's the ipad reception problem now?
This will seriously damage Apple. Apple nerds will still worship them, but your average punter will have lost a huge amount of confidence.
I won't be getting one, will wait for the 5.
The simple fact is that it is so much more than a 'phone and it does everything so well. In fact, much better than all other similar 'phones.
OK, there is a bit of a glitch with the antenna, but the bumper solves that completely and now it's even free.
As anyone who has used an iPhone will tell you, it's the user experience that sells them.
And then there's Apps...
How many of those that said they aren't considering the 4 actually meant "I'm contracted with my 3GS for at least another year so couldn't change even if I wanted to!"
I have been an the waiting list at my local Apple store for 22 days.
These statistics can't be impacting sales too much otherwise I would have mine by now!
Not surprising, especially given the fact that Apple still did not explicitly admit there is a hardware design fault. However, I think the 'negative' figures in thsi survey may be a bit too high.
I was considering the iphone 4 but will now definately skip it. I am still interested in future iphones though.
One with a solar panel on the back would be nice!