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iPhone 4S Users Complaining of Audio Issues: No Audio on Outgoing Calls, Echoes, Static

Thursday November 3, 2011 9:50 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Earlier this week, BGR noted a growing number of complaints in Apple's support forums regarding problems with echoes on the iPhone 4S when used with a headset, with calls typically degrading over the duration of the conversation. One thread on the issue has reached 14 pages of posts with a number of users reporting the same issue on a variety of different phone models and carriers.
When using the Apple hands free headset with the phone during a call, I get an echo problem. It does not occur immediately. It can very from 30 seconds into a call and as far up to 9 mins in before it begins the annoying echo. If I unplug the headset it goes away but will return when I plug the headset back in. I have tried 3 brand new iphone 4s headsets with the same problems. So far I have tried rebooting, and also restored phone back to factory original settings as a new phone and still no resolution. I have been told by the other person on the line a screech sound is made then the echo begins.
Users seem to be having some success in fixing the issue by briefly toggling the speakerphone option on and off when the echo begins.

A potentially related issue of static on iPhone 4S calls is also being documented in its own lengthy thread, with the issue affecting both incoming and outgoing calls and some users reporting the issue occurring on multiple handsets as they've exchanged devices at Apple retail stores in attempts to address the problem.

Finally, a third issue being tracked in a nearly 300-post thread involves users experiencing no audio on a subset of outgoing phone calls.
Picked up a Verizon iPhone 4S - 32GB and on about 1 in 10 calls I get no outbound audio when dialing. Call shows the timer counting as if the call is progressing but absolutely no ring back and cannot hear the party on the other end when they answer.
As with the echo issue, some users have reported that toggling the speakerphone option may fix the lack of audio on a given call, but others claim that the tactic does not always work. For its part, Apple support staff have been unable or unwilling to specifically diagnose the issue as either a hardware or software problem. At least one user has reported that the first developer beta of iOS 5.0.1 released yesterday does not fix the issue.

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[ 226 comments ]


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SandynJosh
64 months ago

I did have an issue with Siri when the volume will get extremely loud after I use it.


Siri's a woman, it's normal.

Can you hear me now now ow ow www...?
Rating: 20 Votes
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soco
64 months ago
Audiogate, right? :rolleyes:
Rating: 7 Votes
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ArcaTech
64 months ago

Heh, "it just works". This is why I didn't get the iPhone 4 untill they had most of the bugs worked out. Seems Apple has a lot of trouble with their new phones.


I am SO tired of people trying to make fun of that phrase every single time there's a bug. When Steve Jobs said "it just works", he did not say, "there will never ever be a bug in our software ever." There will ALWAYS be bugs in software and that will never change.

"It just works" meant that you don't have to configure a bunch of settings or go through any kind of long and annoying process to use a feature. You're being immature when you continually make fun of a company by taking a phrase in a direction it wasn't meant to be taken.
Rating: 5 Votes
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sbrhwkp3
64 months ago
Steve Jobs would be making heads roll right about now.
Rating: 5 Votes
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///M5
64 months ago
I can confirm the 3 issues on my 4S. The don't happen all the time, but when they do, it's annoying as hell.
Rating: 5 Votes
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dbit
64 months ago
By the way, for people asking if it's a problem with the carrier, each of these issues have been confirmed on AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. It is NOT a carrier issue!!!
Rating: 5 Votes
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till213
64 months ago
Wrong

Bois, you're holding it wrong!

----------

I called Apple Tech support and they told me


This is what happens when you call Apple Tech Support with a 4S:

Customer: "Hello support? Battery time sucks big time! And Siri just dropped dead. And I can hear myself, or sometimes not at all..."

Support: "Sorry, can't hear you, we're hanging up right now. Glad that you called us and thank you for being a proud Apple customer!"
Rating: 5 Votes
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Spectrum Abuser
64 months ago
You're holding it wrong.
Rating: 5 Votes
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I8P'CS
64 months ago
Dispite what some may say this is why its always best not to rush and get a product on launch. Waiting 3-6 month is good as to enable all the problems to get rectified, this goes for cars also.

People always rush to have the latest but the ones that wait and are not bothered on having a new product on release or asap are the true winners.

No doubt the people tat rush to get the product then have minor/major problems are going to thumbs down me for speaking the truth. Oh well
Rating: 5 Votes
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kas23
64 months ago

Steve Jobs would be making heads roll right about now.


Based on his past (in)actions, no he wouldn't. He would blame these "problems" on a Google conspiracy and ignore them.
Rating: 4 Votes

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