Apple rivals hit back at Jobs's antenna claims

Smartphone makers Blackberry, Samsung and HTC yesterday rejected claims by Apple chief Steve Jobs that other smartphones have antenna problems similar to those reported with the latest iPhone model.

The three rivals to Apple reacted after Mr Jobs highlighted their devices at a presentation on Friday, saying other smartphones had similar antenna difficulties to the iPhone 4.

Some users of Apple's newest gadget have complained that they lose reception when covering the lower left corner of the phone in what has been referred to as a "death grip".

The problem is caused by an unusual antenna that wraps completely around the iPhone 4. Apple offered free cases to customers to help remedy the problem.

Aiming to demonstrate the iPhone is not the only smartphone that loses signal strength when gripped a particular way, Mr Jobs displayed a video of tests with devices from Canada's RIM, Taiwan's HTC and South Korea's Samsung.

Apple also created an online page on "smartphone antenna performance" at Apple.com/antenna showing the tests with RIM's Blackberry Bold 9700, the HTC Droid Eris and the Samsung Omnia II.

However Samsung said yesterday: "Based on years of experience of designing high-quality phones, Samsung mobile phones employ an internal antenna design technology that optimises reception quality for any type of hand-grip use."