WSJ: Apple preps software fix for iPhone 3G reception issues reported by some

"Apple Inc. is working on a software fix for its new iPhone 3G to remedy dropped phone calls that some users are experiencing, according to people familiar with the matter," Nick Wingfield and Amol Sharma report for The Wall Street Journal.

"Glitches are common for new entrants in the mobile-phone business, one of the most technically challenging categories of products for which to write reliable software code. But the effectiveness and speed with which Apple comes up with a solution for the dropped calls could affect the long-term success of the iPhone, an important growth market for the company. Apple introduced the iPhone 3G, which offers faster Internet access speeds than the original version of the device, on July 11," Wingfield and Sharma report. "'It's not about whether you have problems or don't have them,' said Ken Dulaney, a mobile analyst at research firm Gartner Inc. 'It's how quickly you address them that matters. If Apple addresses them, people will cut them slack.'"

"New iPhone software aimed at addressing the problem is expected to be made available in the coming weeks to iPhone 3G users, who will be able to download and install it on their devices through Apple's iTunes Store," Wingfield and Sharma report.

More in the full article (subscription required)here