Apple’s iPhone 4 antenna debacle has quickly spiraled into an all-out PR disaster, says Network World.
After nearly three solid weeks of customer complaints — all of which were pooh-poohed by Apple — Consumer Reports dropped a bomb on Monday when it reported its hardware tests had “confirmed” a problem with the iPhone 4′s reception. Apple’s stock has already fallen following the news.
Consumer Reports posted a video yesterday, making the point that the signal drop is real — and they’ve called on Apple to do something about it.
A recall is not likely, says C/Net.
This is, after all, about where you hold the phone. It’s not about whether the phone will blow up in your pocket. Still, experts on crisis management and public relations say that how Apple has handled the antenna issue is a textbook example of what not to do in these situations.
According to Apple Insider, analyst Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets said Wednesday that he is hopeful that Apple will address the concerns of users over the iPhone 4 reception by providing customers with free protective cases.
But he also acknowledged that the Cupertino, Calif., company could also face a “broad repair scenario, or even a full recall.”
