After they first tried to downplay it, then claimed it was a display issue, I honestly can't see them admitting it's a design issue. They've dug themselves into a hole.
I think it'll be an all out pro PR offensive.
They will announce/reveal 4.01 with the "improved signal display", and reiterate that the antenna on the iPhone is actually better (probably true), and that all phones are susceptible to signal loss if held a certain way (true, but massively disingenuous). They'll also talk about how few people have returned them for a refund due to this issue, but they will extend that offer anyway.
There may be some announcement of cheap/free bumpers, but if so it will be presented as something that helps ALL phones avoid interference, not just the iPhone 4, and they're doing it because they want their customers to have the best experience. These bumpers will be either black, or a different "I have the free signal panic bumper" color to keep enticing people to pay $30 for a $3 piece of plastic.
I suspect they hope that this message and the subsequent articles by the carefully picked pro-Apple press will be enough to make the signal issue go away, or at least become something people have no interest in talking about any more.
I think it'll be an all out pro PR offensive.
They will announce/reveal 4.01 with the "improved signal display", and reiterate that the antenna on the iPhone is actually better (probably true), and that all phones are susceptible to signal loss if held a certain way (true, but massively disingenuous). They'll also talk about how few people have returned them for a refund due to this issue, but they will extend that offer anyway.
There may be some announcement of cheap/free bumpers, but if so it will be presented as something that helps ALL phones avoid interference, not just the iPhone 4, and they're doing it because they want their customers to have the best experience. These bumpers will be either black, or a different "I have the free signal panic bumper" color to keep enticing people to pay $30 for a $3 piece of plastic.
I suspect they hope that this message and the subsequent articles by the carefully picked pro-Apple press will be enough to make the signal issue go away, or at least become something people have no interest in talking about any more.