Steve Jobs has taken to the stage in Cupertino to offer free cases to all disgruntled iPhone 4 users.
Apple has acknowledged there's a problem with the antenna and has offered users a free case as a way to rectify the issue.
However, Jobs said Apple can't make enough Bumpers to offer everyone one of those, so will be offering alternatives:
"We're going to send you a free case. We can't make enough bumpers. No way we can make enough in the quarter. So we're going to source some cases and give you a choice."
iPhone 4 refunds too
Users who have bought an iPhone 4 bumper will be able to get a refund, and the refunds will apply to all iPhone 4s bought from opening day to 30 September.
Users will also be able to return (undamaged) iPhone 4s to Apple stores for a full refund with no restocking fee up to 30 days after purchase, as the company clearly goes into damage limitation mode.
Early estimates predict this could cost Apple up to £120 million if everyone eligible for the case takes up the offer, but this is miniscule compared to the cost of a full product recall.
You can see the full report of the Apple iPhone 4 press conference here.
TechRadar has contacted a number of Apple iPhone case and peripherals manufacturers to guage their response to the latest news.
Stay tuned for updates.






Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
slaguru
July 17th 2010
7. Simple solution offered. If you don't like it, take it back, full refund.
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clarky720
July 17th 2010
6. This is not a software issue with the phone. After 12 years with T-Mobile I can say I have dropped more calls in two weeks of owning this phone than all the time that I was with t-mobile. I did my own test with my sons thirty pound hand set with my new sim card and was unable to lose signal By the way my phone shows two to three bars max so if the handset is showing more bars than it should what's a software up date going to fix. As for holding the phone wrong apple should say in the instruction how you must hold it as holding it like a phone causes problems.I would like to add that I have bought a apple bumper case and received it within 3 days this seams to have fixed the problem though signal strength is still not great. But iam not getting missed calls an no reception now. The bumper is a nice bit of kit to be honest and apart from the signal problem the iphone is super to use. What concern's me is if I keep this phone and apple bring out a up dated phone to remedy the fault I will be stuck with a that does not really work.
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simonset
July 17th 2010
5. I believe Apples solution of giving away a bumper is lame.
The entire design of the external antenna is erroneous. The points of where the antennas meet should have been either put on the top of the phone minimising the likelihood of bridging whilst holding the phone or the whole of the antenna should have been coated or sheathed with a transparent material so they do not short when bridged.
I find the sweatier my palm is, the quicker the signal drops, I believe this is because sweat (water salt solution) is an extremely good conductor. I also found wearing a rubber washing up glove stops the problem. Maybe Jobs can give these free instead of the bumpers. It’s a lot cheaper!
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goldorak
July 17th 2010
4. LOL, you get what you pay for LOL, My Samsung works fine LOL, you may lern one day that Apple products are simply over priced LOL. I dont have one , dont want one and never will have one. Weel, at least your getting a FREE case, OH, I got one free with my Samsung. LOL
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bradavon
July 16th 2010
3. Ha ha. We know the iPhone 4 has a design flaw (even if it's a small one), so instead of fixing it we're going to give you a free case. Gee thanks.
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awire
July 16th 2010
2. and how are they going to send us this free case? or do we have to go and pick one up?
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paulom
July 16th 2010
1. I know he said AT&T customers will get a refund on their contracts, but what about O2, I'm way passed the 14 day return, however I just want a replacement iPhone 4 as some don't have the problem, but mine currently does.
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