RIM: Don't Drag Us Into Your Antenna Mess, Apple

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Oh boy, this isn’t good. For those who missed it, during Apple’s press conference yesterday to address the iPhone 4′s antenna issues, they showed video of three smartphones losing signal strength if held a certain way. One of them was a BlackBerry Bold 9700 – and RIM is (understandably) not happy about being dragged into the antenna mess.

Apple’s defense at the press conference was that ‘phones aren’t perfect’ and said that a lot of smartphones will lost signal if held a certain way. They showed video of the BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris and Samsung Omnia II – three phones which (in Apple’s video) lost signal strength when held a certain way. As I mentioned above, RIM’s co-CEOs came out swinging. Here’s their statement:

“Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”

- Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie

RIM’s bosses really didn’t mince words either. They’re pretty confident that they don’t have antenna issues. They’re a company that built its reputation on business and reliability (okay, I won’t mention the two or three times a year that BIS will go down for an hour) and they have a right to be offended that Apple did this.

Regardless of you feel about the iPhone – you’ve got admit that this is a poorly-designed antenna. While it’s true that you likely can manipulate any mobile phone to make it drop reception – the number of iPhone 3GS users that now report problems with the iPhone 4 must be enough that any independent unbiased observer has to suspect that something is wrong with the exposed band antenna design.