Verizon announced that it will soon release a software update for the Galaxy Nexus and it hopes to relieve concerns from users over the device’s poor signal strength.
Brenda Raney, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, said the software update will “adjust the signal strength indicator to more closely match other Verizon Wireless devices.” Doesn’t that sound familiar?
Last year when people complained about the iPhone 4’s antennagate, Apple originally claimed that the problem was mainly with the software’s signal strength indicator, not the hardware. It then released a software update to make the indicator more accurate. Consumers still complained. Finally, still claiming that all phones lose their signal when held a certain way, Apple gave out free Bumper cases to shut everyone up for good.
Verizon is making the same claims that Apple first made: it’s software, not hardware. I’m not saying that it is the hardware this time around, but it seems a little suspicious that Verizon is following in Apple’s footsteps to deal with this issue — and the iPhone 4 antennagate was a total PR disaster.
One person commented on IntoMobile about their experience with poor service on the Galaxy Nexus:
“I got a Nexus Google on Friday and the signal SUCKS! 0 bars on 4G and 1 bar on 3G. BB 9930 and a 6 year old Droid get 4-5 bars in the same location with Verizon. This has made the phone useless, Internet non-existent, call quality the worst I’ve ever had (0 bars).”
If you ask me, that sounds like a problem that can’t be fixed by adjusting “the signal strength indicator.” But hey, I could be wrong. I’ll put a hold on any further claims until after Verizon releases the software update.
Meanwhile, have any of you Galaxy Nexus owners been having trouble connecting to Verizon’s network? Be sure to share your experiences in the comments.