Antennagate

Antennagate

The name Apple founder Steve Jobs gave to the controversy over the iPhone 4's antenna after initial users complained of dropped calls and Consumer Reports would not recommend it. Normally, antennas are inside the phone and insulated from the user's hand. In order to make more room inside, the iPhone 4's antennas are fashioned into the metal rim around the unit. However, touching the rim where two antennas meet may significantly interfere with the signal. Some antenna engineers derided the design, saying human hands and antennas should never touch, while others praised its innovative architecture for saving space inside. See iPhone 4.

Lower Left Side
Bridging the gap between the two antennas on the lower left side could lower the signal. Apple offered users a "bumper case" that surrounds the unit to alleviate the problem.