<p>Just got a message that I can upgrade my kids’ iPhones (3G) to the iPhone 4 for just an $18 charge. However, I seem to recall that there were lots of reception issues with the iPhone 4. Have those been resolved? Is this worth doing? I tried to research this online, and frankly, got a bunch of technical stuff that I as a non-techie can’t figure out. Is there any way of understanding whether the AT&T reception in a given area would be worse with the 4 than the 3G? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, we just did this for D2 last week. I have the 3GS and the Apple guy told us there was a huge difference between the 3 and the 4. </p>
<p>D1 lives in the Boston area, and also has the 3G. She absolutely hates it and says her reception is horrible (although I dispute that; a couple of weeks ago H was visiting her and has a Blackberry; when I’d call him, it’d go straight through to voicemail, so to reach him, I’d have to call her and the call would go through). </p>
<p>Anyway, D1 is going to wait for the 5G. So far, D2 has not complained about anything. Of course, it was such an upgrade for her from the 3G that she is very, very happy!</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, we upgraded D’s phone when her 3G ATT phone was stolen back then when iPhone 4 just came out (and the antenna issue was a huge deal overblown by media), and she has not had any problems with reception. DH just got the white iPhone 4 and loves it. H thinks the reception is even better with his new phone.</p>
<p>I don’t know how good AT&T reception is at D’s campus (we had no problems when visiting there). I actually know it’s not all that great for S’s campus (I think mostly because of some of the thicker walls of older buildings), but we’re stuck with AT&T for other reasons. Just don’t know if I’d then go from ok to bad by going from 3G to 4.</p>
<p>I have the 4 ( with Verizon) and haven’t had much problem, I think they improved the antenna issue ( Jobs: just don’t hold it that way), but I still put it in a case.</p>
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<p>I think that’s exactly what D1’s issue is with her AT&T iPhone service in the Boston area. When she’s in old buildings, the reception is not as good. She just moved into a brand new place a week ago and so far we’ve had no problem. If your daughter is in an older dorm, she may have reception problems.</p>
<p>When she first moved into the Boston area, she lived with a dear friend of ours in Weston for almost two months, which is not far from your daughter’s campus. In his home, she had no problems with reception at all.</p>
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<p>Pizzagirl, ATT has the best reception on that campus. It was the reason we switched from TMobile to ATT 3 years ago. Of course, if your D’s room is in the basement of an old brick building, there could be some reception issues.</p>
<p>S and I have the 4G, younger D and H have the 3G. My phone is leaps and bounds faster. My older D has resisted the smart phone craze but is realizing they do have some value. She is considering asking for one for her birthday.
Does anyone know when the next version is coming out?</p>
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<p>ha ha</p>
<p>That would be the million dollar question. Stay tuned.</p>
<p>No phone is good with reception in old, thick walled buildings. Our house is built like a prewar high rise (steel beams and cement) and we have no cell reception. My kids are not cellphone savvy when they leave for college but by the first break (Thanksgiving) they’re cursing this house they love. They have found one window area where they can usually get reception if they face the right way and the clouds are in alignment! It’s so funny because no one at school knows their home phone number so they have to go outside regardless of the weather to get messages.</p>
<p>I’ve had Iphones since they were introduced ,buy a new one whenever they come out, and live here in the heart of SV, where there are millions of Iphone users AND where ATT reception issues has been a big problem. That said, Ive had NO reception issues with my Iphone THIS year- Apple has done a lot of software upgrades recently on the original 4.0 operating system, [ they are offered each time you sync you phone] and the" antenna issue" is non existent at this point.</p>
<p>I got my iPhone 4 in November and haven’t had a single issue with it all this time. As long as you have a case (or at least a Bumper), there are absolutely no signal issues.</p>
<p>Make sure you have the latest and greatest firmware on any of the iphones, DW had a terrible time with the 3g she has until took it to the apple store to have the firmware downloaded.</p>
<p>I’ve always gone for the latest apple Iphones so moved from original to 3G to IPhone4 on the first day. I was most pleased with the original IPhone. Drop rates were very high on IPhone4 and I never liked IPhone 3G. So I gave up and moved to Motorola Atrix 4G and it’s supper fast with data and doesn’t drop calls. </p>
<p>You need to remember IPhone 4 is still 3G.</p>
<p>I received the same notice for my 3G, and think I’m going to wait until the iphone 5 comes out to upgrade (it’s supposed to come out sometime this fall).
Both of my sons have the iphone 4, and really like it. (Younger son gets good service on the NU campus with his iphone 4).</p>
<p>I’m happy with my iPhone 4. The only real problem I have is if you are in a large crowd- a concert venue, football game or something, ATT is horrible. Data basically shuts down, including texts.</p>
<p>I’ve been stalking the iphone rumor sites as I became eligible for an upgrade August 1st & I don’t want to suffer from tech envy if I upgrade now and the new iphone is announced next month. The consensus is that there will probably be an announcement in September about the new phone with them being rolled out sometime in October. And there might NOT be an iPhone5 yet; there might just be an upgraded iPhone4…</p>
<p>Our tech guru (PMKjr), has advised us to hang onto our 3Gs and wait for the 5. So, that’s the plan for now.</p>
<p>Thanks. I didn’t realize a 5 was so soon on the horizon, so I’ll hold til then. Appreciate all the input.</p>
<p>^^Well, The new phone is going to cost a whole lot more to “upgrade” to a 5 than just $18!!!So if its for the kids, I’d save the $$ and get them 4’s now.</p>