Apple settles iPhone 4 antenna lawsuit: Report

Apple settles iPhone 4 antenna lawsuit: Report

Apple has reached a settlement over a class-action lawsuit filed over the antenna
problem which dogged the 2010 launch of its iPhone 4, according to a statement
published on Monday.

Apple promises to pay $15 or give a free case to every US customer who bought
one of the popular phones released in June 2010, but immediately faced problems
with voice calls, the CNET tech website reported.

The problem was identified as being due to people gripping the smartphone by part
of the lower left corner, strangling signal strength through the silver edging
designed as part of the antenna system.

"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 when it was being offered in 2010," Apple
told CNET in a written statement.

But Ira Rothken, a lead attorney in the class-action case, said more than 21 million
iPhone 4 owners were eligible for the payout, adding that the free case offer lasted
for three months.

"We believe that the Apple iPhone 4 settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable,"
Rothken told CNET.

Under the settlement, eligible customers - those who had purchased an iPhone 4 in
the US before Friday's ruling - have 120 days to make their claims, starting from
Apr 30. A website to facilitate the claims, iPhone4Settlement.com, has been set up
but is not yet activated, CNET said.

It remains to be seen how Apple plans to compensate international iPhone 4 users.