Samsung, RIM Reject Apple's Claims Of Smartphone Antenna Issues

Samsung Electronics dismissed claims by Apple that all smartphones suffer from dropped signals when held a certain way. Last Friday, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs defended the new iPhone 4 against complaints that the phone has reception issues by saying other phones have similar antenna issues.

In defending the iPhone, Jobs cited devices from Samsung, RIM, and HTC in an effort to show that Apple is not the only company who has a smartphone with a reception issue. Apple also launched a website that shows how other phones experience similar reception issues.

"Based on years of experience of designing high-quality phones, Samsung mobile phones employ an internal antenna design technology that optimizes reception quality for any type of hand-grip use," Samsung said in a statement.

In addition, Samsung officials have said that there have been no major customer complaints about reception with regards to the company's Omnia II smartphone which was cited by Apple as having issues.

The iPhone 4 has an unusual antenna that wraps completely around the device. Some users have said they lose reception when they cover the lower left corner of the phone. In a recent press conference, Jobs acknowledged the iPhone 4 has dropped slightly more calls than the iPhone 3GS but indicated the issue was blown out of proportion and not unique to the iPhone 4.

Samsung isn't the only company that's fighting back against Apple's claims. Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the co-chief executives of Research in Motion also issued a statement: "Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable."