The Live Indian Entertainment Blog

When Apple said the whole problem with the iPhone 4's antenna was the signal bars being incorrect, many mocked them. On the other hand, it sure sounded like throwing AT&T under the bus again.

Apple's theory was that inaccurate signal bars led users to believe they were in an area of greater signal strength than they were, and when holding the iPhone 4 in one's hand caused the signal attenuation caused by bridging the external antenna system, the signal dropped to a point where a call might be disconnected. Of course, as Apple said at the iPhone 4 "Antennagate" event, a strong signal would prevent the "death grip" issue.

Hmmm. It's that darned poor AT&T network again.

In fact, a test of the iPhone 4 vs. the HTC Wildfire, Nokia E71, and Apple's previous iPhone 3GS by Norway's Verdens Gang, the country's largest online and printed newspaper, seemingly confirmed that diagnosis.

VG reported that the iPhone 4 was just as good (or bad) the other phones. What's also interesting is that, as reported by AppleInsider, who had help with the translation by a Norwegian reader:

The paper suggested poor mobile networks may be the cause of the US reports of iPhone 4 antenna problems. It cited Amobil, a Norwegian mobile phone news site, as having 'tested the iPhone 4 thoroughly, without finding any evidence that it is improperly constructed. All modern mobile phones have integrated antennas, and it is normal that they are affected by how the phone is held,' VG said.

Amobil writer Finn Jarle Kvalheim added, 'Consumer Reports goes far in asserting that the problems do not have anything to with the mobile network. But it is a fact that mobile networks in Norway are much more robust than AT&T's network in the US.'

Critics of AT&T's network would agree that it is certainly not a great network. That, of course, would be discounted by those 73 percent of AT&T iPhone users are satisfied with the network.

So, is this the truth of the matter? Rather than "Antennagate," are we really looking at "AT&T-gate?" Based on history, and trouble many experience on AT&T's network, it cam't be ruled out.

The VG test wasn't coincidental. Apple will launch the new iPhone 4 in 17 more countries on Friday, including Norway, as well as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.