Smartphones worse at phone calls than older models

[Jazzy]

2G phones are often better for making phone calls than the latest 3G smartphones, communications regulator Ofcom

People living in rural areas should hang up their smartphones if they want to actually make phone calls, new research from communications regulator Ofcom suggests.



New models, such as Apple’s top-selling iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S2, offer sophisticated “third-generation” (3G) technology to allow access to high speed networks, email and the internet, but the new Ofcom study found that starting and completing calls made from rural areas was better on older 2G phones. These devices, called feature phones rather than smartphones, allow more internal space for aerials.



Ofcom found that “in the more rural areas that the phones were tested, the feature/entry-level phones generally returned somewhat better performance than smartphones for call completion and call setup.”



The regulator suggested that “This may be due to the reduced complexity of antenna on these devices and 2G phones not having issues in switching between 2G and 3G networks.”



Quality of sound was found to be the same between devices, however. Ofcom carried out its research to assess whether consumers were being properly informed about mobile network coverage. It found that, while individual phone companies provided valuable network maps, just three out of every ten consumers consulted them. The regulator wants to encourage shops to inform customers about coverage when they’re buying mobile phones, and it also wants different networks to standardise their information so that consumers can compare services across providers.



Ofcom’s comparison of 2G and 3G handsets aimed to examine whether coverage maps were accurate across different devices. The regulator found that “performance differences are likely in practice to be modest, and not necessarily a factor that consumers should base their choice of phone on”.



Overall, Ofcom found that mobile networks were making progress at addressing areas of poor-coverage both in rural areas and in buildings. The regulator added, however, that there were a number of areas where commercial organisations were unlikely to be able to justify making sufficient investment to seriously improve coverage.



Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...s-worse-at-phone-calls-than-older-models.html

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I have a smart phone & calls are just fine. But the damn battery drains out too fast. I thought of switching back to an old style phone but I like having the internet on the go, apps & games too. Guess I will have to live carrying a charger in my pocket & plugging in whenever I get the opportunity.