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WTF? iPhone OS 3.1.3 kills 3G?

It comes to something when a software update kills a core feature of the iPhone for some people. But for many users the recent 3.1.3 update has done just that. Discussion forums are rife with talk that the update has killed 3G reception. Yes 3G reception. On the iPhone 3G / 3GS.  You could probably describe that as a core feature.

I myself had this problem and this was only fixed (for now at least) by getting a new SIM card for the phone. The network provider concerned noted that many people were having the same problem and 3.1.3 was to blame.

As usual we hear nothing from Apple, and probably won't until the next software update arrives to fix this. Or maybe not. Either way this is not a good week to be screwing up with a certain software company launching its new mobile platform.

Gift for Vodafone as O2 stumbles

O2 has admitted that its customers have been affected by a problem that prevents them accessing the Internet. 

Lack of data service rather limits the use of the iPhone, and coming in the wake of Vodafone announcing that it will be offering the iPhone to its customers on January 14 the problem could not come at a worse time.

Latest updates fail to solve 3G reception issues; Apple sued by customer

Despite Apple issuing a firmware update for the iPhone on 18 August, the 3G reception issues refuses to go away, with many customers still reporting problems. Indeed one has gone as far as suing the iPhone maker in a class action lawsuit, claiming that the phone is not as fast as advertised. 

iPhone 3G reception issues blamed on faulty chip?

BusinessWeek reports that 3G reception problems widely reported in the new iPhone could be down to faulty software on an Infineon chip within the phone. This offers hope that the problems could be resolved by a simple software update of the iPhone, rather than a widespread product recall.

Apparently one of the chip's main roles is to check to see if there is enough 3G bandwidth available, and sources speculate that Apple programmed the chip to make it think it needs more than it actually needs. Hence it is bumping some users to the EDGE network, when there is still enough 3G bandwidth for the phone to work in 3G mode.

We await developments with interest - Apple has declined to comment.