keep in mind that optus has had trouble in syd/melb over the last 24 hours, and what you are seeing might be these issues still.

certainly not defending Optus, for me, they have been a disaster to date also.

however I don't want you thinking it's an iPhone problem, if it's the "temporary" network outage that was reported on Optus yesterday.

see- Optus 3G Network Issues Today?

I got my hands on a 3G iPhone a couple of days ago.
I changed from Vodafone to Optus..

I get 1 bar of reception at my house (Blackburn South) if I'm lucky. 2G or 3G.

A friend who is also on Optus gets full reception strength on both 2G and 3G from my house, using his Motorola. We also tried swapping sims.. didn't help.

The iPhone is awesome and does so many handy things.. But if it doesn't work as a phone then for me it's useless.

Not sure what I'm going to do about it but I know whatever happens is going to be a pain in my ass.

ONCE AGAIN -

I would like to ask anyone who thinks they have been having reception issues to report this directly to both their provider, AND to Apple Australia directly.

It's all well and good making a complaint on a forum, and filling in an informal survey... HOWEVER the best chance that we have of getting something done, or our claims investigated is if EVERYONE who feels they are having an issue to REPORT IT. PLEASE.

We are close to getting the right people listening, my last call to Optus resulted in speaking with a technician that had actually heard of these problems previously

Optus iPhone Tech support - 133 713
Apple Australia - 133 622 (ask for customer relations)

Don't worry, you'd get the same problem on Vodafone as well.

I have the smallest amount of reception with 3g switched on even when it switches between 2g and 3g but if I turn 3g off I get maximium reception on 2g.

I'd be happy with that because at least the phone can function as a phone. Right now, mine is just an extremely sexy iPod Touch.

muddy and max - call your carrier (optus?) and apple australia.

it looks like worldwide there is some traction being gained. carriers in sweeden are acknowledging the issue, suggesting that it's a software/firmware problem(s), and crediting their users 1 month of data usage.

IF WE ALL RING UP SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN!

Don't worry I will.. I'm planning a trip tomorrow to somewhere in Melbourne that my iPhone will allow me to make a call
Optus and Apple will be the first on my call list!

i shouldnt lol... but that's so bad, you have to plan a special trip out just so your phone works!? (and other 3g phones work in your area ok?)

^can you switch to GSM, MAXp0wer? As an aside, I've found GSM data speeds on Optus actually aren't that bad, depending on what you are doing. Or do you have no Optus reception at all?

My iPhone 3G's reception is not good. The phone connection drops out without any reason. If I try to call back and I get a failed call alert and no reception message appears but the phone doesn't switch back to 2G automatically. I have to switch the phone manually to 2G. I am already on Vodafone Australia network. I read some internet forums, this problem is in a global scale.

I called Vodafone today, but phone support person couldn't help me as usual then I sent a message to Vodafone Australia, and explained the problem. I took a screen shot of my phone and attached to it. I hope Vodafone AU pass these messages on Apple.

Me and my mate bought iPhone in the same time (white, 16GB, Vodafone Australia), poor reception is exactly the same on my mate's phone too. It means my phone is not faulty, iPhone itself got the problem. I hope Apple hears us, and fix the problem with a firmware update.

If you have any advise on this matter, would be great.

as with the test of us. You have 2 options.

1) return the phone
2) live with it and hope it gets fixed soonest

*NEW APPLE CONTACT NUMBER!*

REPORT THESE ISSUES TO -

Optus iPhone Tech support - 133 713
Apple Australia - 1300321456, listen to the voice prompts, there is a silent option, dial 8. Enter extension 40109. Speak with Chris.

Thanks guys!

I saw some pictures of a 3G iPhone being disassembled the other day and noticed that the antennae are in the bottom of the phone around where the home button is. I'm wondering if people's hands are blocking the signal a bit as most people tend to hold their phones around the bottom half.

Seems strange to me to put an antenna anywhere but up at the top of the phone.

I'm in country SA and with optus, I get 1 or 2 bars inside and the phone can be in the same spot all day and switch between service and no service, it's wierd.