Antennagate Ends, With a $15 Settlement
Crazy to recall this now, but back in the the summer of 2010, the Apple world was briefly obsessed with the design of the iPhone’s antenna, and whether it did or didn’t contribute to the phone’s call-quality problems.
The furor eventually prompted Steve Jobs to hold an unprecedented press conference to defend the phone’s design. The issue eventually went away, but not completely, due to the inevitable class action suits.
But now those are gone, too. A settlement will give iPhone 4 buyers who never exchanged their phones for a new one — and didn’t take up Apple’s offer for a free “bumper” back in 2010 — a chance to get a new bumper, or take a $15 payout.
CNET has more details, and Apple PR rep Natalie Harrison offered this comment over the phone: “This settlement relates to a small number of customers who indicated that they experienced antenna or reception issues with their iPhone 4 and didn’t want to take advantage of a free case from Apple while it was being offered in 2010.”
From what I can tell the settlement applies to anyone who’s ever bought an iPhone 4, including people who are buying them at this very moment — there doesn’t appear to be any kind of end date.
If you’re looking for ways to spend that $15, by the way, Apple just happens to have iTunes gift cards, in two very nice designs, in that exact denomination.