Apple's 3G iPhone Has Some Kinks to Resolve

As the Washington Post reports and many predicted, Apple's (AAPL) 3G iPhone has some major “phone” issues. As a small form factor computing device it is without peers. Unfortunately, Apple overlooked that the two most important features for any mobile phone are call quality and battery life.

Apple chose to save some money by choosing Infineon’s (IFX) subpar baseband solution. They also didn’t learn from the many previously released 3G smart phones that have struggled due to disappointing battery life. For example, the Motorola Q had to basically double the size of its battery. The 3G iPhone should satisfy Apple’s core customers, but it is difficult to see widespread adoption before the battery and baseband are meaningfully improved. That should give AT&T (T) time to upgrade its 3G network to be competitive with Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S). Although doubtful, it might also give competitors time to offer more competitive devices.

Between the imminent WiFi upgrade to 802.11n, mobile WiMax (IEEE 802.16e), and the eventual launch of LTE; wireless broadband will eventually be ubiquitous and most of us will be using an iPhone type device. For Apple, it is encouraging how many companies are targeting their mobile platform, with some incredible adoption rates. However, most companies will probably build their “iPhone applications” as web applications that can be just as easily used on a Blackberry (RIMM) or Windows Mobile (MSFT) device - once both companies figure out how to incorporate a web browser into their phone.

Disclaimer: I have no position in any company listed, but do intend on purchasing an iPhone once the battery easily lasts a full day and the 3G baseband is competitive with Texas Instruments’ solution.

Comments

[charanischiu:]

There is a Swiss company which produce a battery support unit that can quick charge any iPhone smartphone when AC power is not available.
Or any brand name smartphone. It cost only USD 100.00 and work just fine, lifetrons.ch.

2008 Jul 28 05:52 AM

[bbzz24:]

my biggest issue is the lack of A2DP (bluetooth stereo). how this can be omitted from a music jukebox phone? i guess it was all down to money: better sell for $30 cable headphones (appox at $29 profit) than open it to competition.

2008 Jul 28 06:01 AM

[Azazello:]

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2008 Jul 28 06:42 AM

[Azazello:]

a magnificent site that cuts off hyphenated strings! BRAVO!

2008 Jul 28 06:43 AM

[tuskagee:]

iPhone has been found by CNET to have THE LONGEST 3G BATTERY LIFE.

2008 Jul 28 07:13 AM

[tuskagee:]

Please fix the hyphens issue. I've had problems also.

2008 Jul 28 07:14 AM

[Oh Blah Dee...:]

RE: "Apple overlooked that the two most important features for any mobile phone are call quality and battery life."

==========
You haven't done your homework.

Tests by PC Magazine of 3G phones show that the Apple iPhone has the LONGEST battery use time on a 3G network.

In addition, Steve Jobs said, MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO, that 3G is a battery hog and that is why Apple came out with just EDGE on the first iPhone. Apple only introduced 3G on its new iPhone after it was able to make its 3G iPhone the standard to beat in the industry.

Finally, I own an EDGE iPhone and a 3G iPhone. I can tell you for certain that the 3G iPhone sounds MUCH better than the first. It's the BEST phone that I have ever had out of numerous other mobile phone manufacturers.

2008 Jul 28 07:18 AM

[dig:]

you are clearly clueless about this market segment and technology. do your homework before wasting time on a misinformed post.

2008 Jul 28 09:04 AM

[jazzkeys:]

The iphone is with peers? We will all be using an "iphone-type" device? Does this guy realize that there were smart phones and pocket pc's around before the iphone? The iphone has not added anything new to the smart phone/ppc battle (except first rate marketing)! It is not the most powerful, the memory cannot be upgraded, it cannot be customized, it doesn't allow full GPS functionality, the camera is sub par, you can't use a stereo BT headset, etc. I could go on and on, but there are plenty of sites that have done comparisons (with the actuals specs, not just preferences) between various WM6 phones and the iphone. Phones by HTC, Nokia, and Sony are much more powerful overall devices than the music/video playing iphone!

But I guess that Apple's clever marketing (those guys should all get raises!) has everyone thinking that they are offering something new, exciting, and different; but you are really just getting an iPod Touch that can make calls.

2008 Jul 28 09:14 AM

[mollytjm:]

the iPhone is being top rated by independent tech and consumer magazines. my son has an iphone and when he visited, he used it and various functions, a lot...and the battery did last all day. obviously if you play videos or use energy hogging programs, you have to recharge (it's fast), but it lasts as long as any other smartphone with even half the features. and the picture quality and web browsing is without equal.
but it's not just a smartphone..it's more of a shirt pocket computer. and this 'hasn't been around a long time'. neither was anything like an ipod Touch. they're both amazing.
if you want just a phone.. buy something else. but if you want to carry one tech device that does almost everything, it's an iphone...hands down.

2008 Jul 28 09:46 AM

[relish1t:]

What total crap of a story! You don't even address the issues in your opening paragraph: "Unfortunately, Apple overlooked that the two most important features for any mobile phone are call quality and battery life." But instead (you) meander off into some senseless, worthless and unsupported diatribe about networking

Absolute Crap this reader says.........

2008 Jul 28 10:24 AM

[brewer:]

Have you actually used an iPhone? Really, i can't tell. Have fun trying to use your crackberry or MSFT (ha ha ha) 'smartphone' to read a web page. (Was that a JOKE? If so, it's a real flag-waver!)

2008 Jul 28 11:07 AM

[tom1234:]

well said molly

2008 Jul 28 11:26 AM

[FrankD.:]

once both companies figure out how to incorporate a web browser into their phone.

Have you even had an Iphone in your hand?
Do some research then write the article.

2008 Jul 28 11:55 AM

[Mayor Quimby:]

I'm so sick of these complaints. I have an iPhone. You can get THREE FULL DAYS of usage. You just need to turn WiFi and 3G off when you're not using it. That is it. With average usage of 2 hours of web surfing, an hour of video, 2 or 3 hours of music each day, you can easily get 2+ full days. Enough of this! Buy the phone and learn to use it before writing articles that get seen by thousands of people. Oi vey.

2008 Jul 28 12:05 PM

[dithers:]

the new iPhone has good to excellent 'phone' quality, and battery life is pretty good - not as good as the first iphone, but its 3G.
Nokia etc? They DONT even come close.

WHY do you think it is selling so fast?
It really is that good.

Poorly written article btw - where is the evidence that Infineon's chip is 'sub par'?
The link merely goes to Engadgets page from April - ?

Tip: drink coffee, have shower, kiss wife and kids, THEN write article.

2008 Jul 28 12:49 PM

[Robcal1:]

Finally! A writer that's figured out what's wrong with this 3G piece of crap! I live in Anaheim, just south of the second largest populated city in the country (L.A.). Both of my iPhone's (the first one and now 3G), have never worked well. They drop calls constantly, that's if you can even receive or place one. After several calls over the past year, AT&T and Apple have both denied that there have been any quality issues with their network or the iPhone. They are both 100% liars!! And now this article gives some insight as to the real cause. Yes, this battery is ABSOLUTELY horrible!!! I'm lucky if I make it to lunchtime with a charge after it's been fully charged at 8 a.m. A car charger is not optional, it's a must!! Thank you Brian.

2008 Jul 28 12:55 PM

[Mayor Quimby:]

dithers-

Battery life is not 'pretty good', it is EXCEPTIONAL. Much improved over the 1st phone which I've had for a year. If you simply TURN OFF 3G and WIFI until you need them, you can get THREE DAYS OF USAGE. Tiny little Nokia's don't do that and how many features do they have???

2008 Jul 28 12:57 PM

[sleepy:]

Mr Bober: You must explain what you mean by asserting Infineon's baseband solution is "subpar". Please identify the population of solutions whose average is higher, and what metric you are using to evaluate, and how the user of a phone could possibly tell the difference between a TI and an Infineon chip inside.

2008 Jul 28 01:12 PM

[FreeRange:]

To jazzkeys - you have no idea what you are talking about. Its not just the phone capabilities, or the fact that its the most sophisticated computer in this form factor, its the software stupid!!!! And the fact that it is an integrated platform computing device with no equals, its the ecosystem across all Apple products and services. It has in fact added a lot that is new... like USABILITY, incredible functionality, and the apps store which offers huge promise for the iPhone's future innovation.

2008 Jul 28 03:26 PM

[WalveMalve:]

As I recall when the first iPhone came out everybody was disappointed because it was only 2.5G to which Apple pointed out that 3G was too detrimental to battery life. But the whining persisted and so Apple decided to release the 3G incarnation of the phone to which everybody exclaimed that the battery life is too poor for a phone -- precisely what Apple warned about in the first place.

As far as the baseband chip is concerned, the other major issue with the first iPhone was the price.

2008 Jul 28 05:12 PM

[Doug, Mtn. ...:]

Robcal1: what kind of dope are you? You're so annoyed with the first iPhone that you bought the next one? Just because you live in a reception area null doesn't mean that we all do. You and a few others have a problem with battery life (your phone must be glued to your ear), so we ALL must have the same issues. Wrong! The thing's only been out for a lousy two weeks --- take it back, get your money returned, then go buy the superior BB or Nokia phones. Leave the fold! You'll be happier, and so will we.

2008 Jul 28 06:40 PM

[Cho Cha:]

The iphone is an amazing piece of hardware.
At&t absolutely sucks, there is no way they have rolled out the 3g network they have claimed.
I want to tell at&t to lower my bill to the edge price and I'll turn off 3g. POS

2008 Jul 28 10:09 PM

[Cho Cha:]

The iphone is an amazing piece of hardware.
At&t absolutely sucks, there is no way they have rolled out the 3g network they have claimed.
I want to tell at&t to lower my bill to the edge price and I'll turn off 3g. POS

2008 Jul 28 10:09 PM

[dithers:]

Mike C.

Happy to hear that - I havent tried switching off 3G as yet - and to be fair, I dont really need 3G 99% of the time, so I will try it.

I didnt mean to 'damn with faint praise' - the iPhone is simply the finest piece of tech I have ever owned.

2008 Jul 28 11:55 PM

[beenthere5:]

Dude, stop complaining about the battery issue. It is just fine. And why the hell would you need to use 3G all the time? And if you do, there are 10 different ways to charge your battery.

If you don't buy the iPhone - your loss. Someone else who wants it will get it sooner.

2008 Jul 29 12:24 AM

[kbear2:]

There is an "o" missing from the author's last name.

2008 Jul 29 01:08 AM

[Michelle Hulin:]

HEY BOOBER - if the iphone is not "all that" then why in the FREAK are people standing in two hour lines two weeks after launch trying to get one? You have alot of misleading statements - such as like when are you NOT ever in your car or at your desk with your cell phone, spend a few bucks (you save hundred on a 3G from the first edition) and get yourself a Cigarette Lighter Adapter and an extra AC power - I am here to tell you I was at 20% power the other day and used my CLA - in about 30 minutes I was NEAR FULL charge. So even if it is a power hog its a hungry hog and slops up its power when fed in due course and does not leave you dead in the water. I will hand it to you that Verizon is withOUT a doubt better on their network coverage and well I will plus WAAAAAY better customer service, AT&T sucks. We with iPhones are all victims of the monopoly of Apple and AT&T - if we want an iphone that is our only choice. Good call on Blackberry needing a browser that is why I got my iPhone, but sorry I had to become an AT&T'er (ick....)

Last but not least - ALL YOU MAC HATERS - remember this - a MAC can do ANYTHING - we can even run your windows crap OS and applications - can you run MacOS on your PC....um that would be a NO.

2008 Jul 29 03:50 AM

[johnnryou:]

Well, in fact, if you dont like AT&T, u can unlock and use with any other GSM providers. It's just a default setting that makes u stick with AT&T. If you are willing to pay a bit more (money and time) to get it unlocked and use with other network, and you can get best of both world.

2008 Jul 30 08:12 AM

[Vox Rationalis:]

iPhone owner for five days. Holy crap.

Now, I'm a gadget guy, so I can't speak for the masses. But this thing is freakin' awesome. Yes, the battery life isn't very good (compared to regular phones). But it's really quite an amazing device, especially after adding a couple dozen 3rd party apps.

It goes right into my list of devices for which I'd gladly pay in weight and size for a doubling of battery life. Included were my 1G and 2G iPods, and other media players.

So how to deal? I'll be buying chargers for everywhere; the cars, work, home. I will learn to plug in at every possible time. I will learn to conserve power (anybody know if I can set up an icon that will change multiple settings, such as turning off 3G, Wifi, and Bluetooth and reducing the brightness to a specific level?).

Bottom line, it's a very nice device which will be extremely competitive in certain non-Applehead markets.

2008 Jul 30 10:53 AM

[akapital:]

Frankly I have yet to see a good phone with good battery life anyway so this is really a moot point. Battery life appears to be a universal complaint of high end phones in general. So if you're going to complain about it, may as well get the best gadget out there to complain about...i guess it would be like complaining about how some great new sports car doesn't get good milieage...generally sports cars don't get good mileage...

2008 Jul 30 04:37 PM

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2008 Aug 04 02:25 AM