[PugetSoundSoldier]

One of the things you learn in customer support is that for every person who complains, 10 more stay silent. I’d take a 0.5% call rate for dropped calls as meaning 5% actually have the problem.

And note that Apple was careful to mention calls to “AppleCare”, NOT to AT&T. Most people who have dropped calls tend to call the carrier, not the hardware manufacturer (when your call drops, do you immediately think of your carrier or the phone maker?).

If Apple’s getting 0.5% of all iPhone 4 owners calling THEM over dropped calls, that’s a pretty significant rate overall. How many called AT&T about the issue?

A more telling metric than what Jobs reported would be the total number of iPhone 4 users who reported a dropped call - not just to AppleCare, not just to AT&T, but worldwide (since the sales are reported worldwide). THAT would be a relevant statistic; calls to AppleCare is interesting, but I don’t think too relevant.

[BunnySlippers]

And note that Apple was careful to mention calls to “AppleCare”, NOT to AT&T

They mentioned the return rate to AT&T as being 1.7. The return rate on the 3GS as being 6%. With the 3GS having no howling from trolls.

[Wright Wing]

Jobs was clear to state that they used the Apple Care numbers because they had the metrics. AT&T did not give out the actual numbers because they.keep those numbers private because it might be telling as to their network capability.

Will Comsumer Reports investigate the signal loss of the BB phone and HTC phone demonstrated during the press conference? After all it was just a Gizmodo article that started this whole thing.

Consumer Reports actually shuould retest the phone after the latest software update. They should also compare the iPhone signal loss against other phones that exhibit similar signal drops.

[Richard Kimball]

And note that Apple was careful to mention calls to “AppleCare”, NOT to AT&T.

AT&T routes calls about the iPhone to Applecare. A couple of weeks ago I called AT&T. First thing they did was ask me what phone I was using. I told them iPhone, they said "hold on" and about 30 seconds later a lady said, "Welcome to Applecare."

[NVDave]

Here’s some data that gives you a fuller picture:

http://www.changewave.com/assets/alliance/reports/cell_service_20100427/cell_service_20100427.pdf

Executive summary: AT&T would be dead without the iPhone in terms of customer satisfaction, and dropped call rates are a big piece of that dissatisfaction.

If Apple had an iPhone on Verizon, you’d see a bunch of people jump ship from AT&T. Heck, if the iPhone were available on Verizon’s network, I’d buy one tomorrow. Because the iPhone is limited to AT&T, I won’t buy an iPhone.

And mind you — I could get a subsidy to get into an iPhone in the next six months by just staying where I am: on an Alltel network area that has been acquired by AT&T. Instead, our household has had such crappy experience with AT&T Wireless in the past that we’re jumping ship to Verizon and (most likely) Droid phones.

[Swordmaker]

And note that Apple was careful to mention calls to “AppleCare”, NOT to AT&T. Most people who have dropped calls tend to call the carrier, not the hardware manufacturer (when your call drops, do you immediately think of your carrier or the phone maker?).

You are misquoting what was reported:

The calls to AppleCare were referencing the attenuation issue, not "dropped calls." Per their contract, AT&T will refer all support issues with the iPhone itself to Apple. Dropped calls AT&T will handle and the stats about that were specified about them came from AT&T not AppleCare.