SAN FRANCISCO - The Apple iPhone 4 carried By Verizon Wireless suffers from a glitch -- similar to one that plagues AT&T Incorporated's version of the device -- that may result in dropped calls in certain areas, Consumer Reports said.
After testing the phone, which was released this month, Consumer Reports said it won't include the device on its list of recommended smart phones.
"The Verizon iPhone 4 closely resembles the original AT&T iPhone 4 in many positive respects, including offering great multimedia functionality, a sharp screen, and the best MP3 player we've seen on a phone," Consumer Reports said on its website. "Unfortunately, it also shares with its sibling the possibility of compromised performance in low-signal conditions when used without a bumper or case."
Calls may be dropped when the phone is gripped in a way that affects the phone's signal strength, the group said.
Consumer Reports also said the device "performs superbly" in most other respects and that using a case can fix the signal. Consumer Reports similarly didn't recommend the iPhone 4 when it was released for AT&T last year, citing an antenna design flaw that led to dropped calls.
Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs apologized and offered customers free cases to help fix the problem. The iPhone, which first hit stores in 2007, has become Apple's bestselling product. It accounted for 39 percent of $26.7 billion in total sales in the most recent quarter.
Verizon Wireless said less than half of 1 percent of iPhone 4 call attempts fail or are ineffective in major cities. That's on par with the performance of other smart phones on its network, said Marquett Smith, a spokesman for Verizon Wireless. The company isn't recommending that subscribers use bumpers.
