I wish I did, but I don’t. I refuse to deal with marketing people at work if I can avoid it. I do work in the mobile industry, but the people with iPhones I see tend to range from any age and any salary scale. From 20 years old all the way to 50 and above.

most people are quite contented with phones that are purely there for making calls and messaging, and if they need the internet use their computer at home or work.

sure, many people are mathematically challenged but even the average person can work out that £35/month on a phone is going to be quite expensive

there aren’t that many people willing to blow £700+ on a phone over eighteen months, they’d probably prefer to blow that kind of money on a new TV or better satellite TV service that the *whole* family can enjoy.

“My point was that as Shaun said that Apple get a lot of free media publicity like a pop star even though the pop star is not relevant for most people.”

Understand that, but I think on this point Apple would rather have done without the free publicity…!

more people own feature phones than Smartphones. The issue is about making phone calls (function of the antenna) not using Smartphone functions. My point and you point is valid, Apple is given preferntial treatment because it is a big brand. Most people where I work don’t care about Smartphones or iPads, they are more worried about job cuts (no pun intended!).

Not smartphones. The hype is smartphone related at the moment and will continue to be.

I’ve been to parts of the UK that are not London and the South East, and guess what, people use cheap Sasmsung and LG phones. Nokia, Samsung and SE sell the most phones in the UK, not Apple.

@Jah

Most people do not own a particular phone in the UK, but the iPhone is everywhere that I work, socialise and go currently. I see so many it’s crazy.

Smartphones get big attention everywhere and the iPhone even more. We should embrace the fact that the BBC etc. are noticing and not decry it.

“And I’m absolutely certain that your proximity sensor issue will be fixed to your satisfaction, one way or another. Sooner rather than later, I hope.”

@lazyboy

Thanks, but how on earth did this slip through? This is why Apple get such rounds of bad press because it is so unlike the company. When you have this problem it makes the whole experience much less than it should be and for all of Apple’s excellent design work this part is a screw up in my opinion. I am not convinced the signal issue is a huge deal and that has been blown up a lot, but conversely the proximity issue seems to only affect some people and it is potentially much worse.

And I simply do not agree that there is any excuse for bloggers or professional journalists to play fast and loose with facts or to engage in malicious exaggeration.

And I’m absolutely certain that your proximity sensor issue will be fixed to your satisfaction, one way or another. Sooner rather than later, I hope.

Jah, the very fact that most of today’s smartphones/feature phones take their cues from the iPhone is reason enough for the iPhone and Apple to have they profile they do. From the UI, pinch to zoom, use of accelerometers, the app store, and in a countless other ways, the iPhone has had and continues to have a profound influence on the market. The iPhone took smartphones mainstream and that’s why it gets a lot of attention (both good and bad).

My point was that as Shaun said that Apple get a lot of free media publicity like a pop star even though the pop star is not relevant for most people.

It’s not about ownership though is it? (though there were more people queuing for the phone on 24th June outside phone shops all over the UK than you ever see for any other type of device)

It’s about the company. Like it or not (and frankly I don’t care either way), Apple is a big company, and this is big news. I’m sure Apple didn’t set out to be lead stories when they launched the iPhone – at least not in this context. It’s the media/journalists etc (once again) who have blown this out of all proportion.

By the way, though I can replicate some dropping of bars on my iPhone, it’s not an issue and I still think it’s a fantastic device. I don’t have Shaun’s proximity issues either.

Gizmodo is bonkers and looks for any opportunity to slam Apple nowadays, but does anyone really take it seriously anymore?

My proximity sensor issue drives me mad and I would say the same no matter who made the phone. Will see if the replacement has the same problem.

I don’t have contempt for the journalists or bloggers- most mainstream journalists do not understand the specifics and the bloggers are in the business of writing their thoughts down. There has been some crazy over egging of the truth, but then again there is lots of positive over egging when a new Apple product is launched as well. It’s like a celebrity wanting attention from the press every day and then complaining about privacy.

Apple needs to learn that it’s excellent marketing, which truly is excellent, has to have a downside.