RIM fires back at Apple on 'antennagate' issue
Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 1:41PM 
By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
RIM (Research in Motion Ltd.) executives Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie weren't too thrilled at Apple's claims to media that all smartphones, including RIM's BlackBerry devices, suffer from the supposed problem that is affecting some iPhone 4s.
A statement from the BlackBerry maker declared, "RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”
Steve Jobs addressed the press contingent yesterday at the Apple Campus by showing similar drop in phone reception from different competing products. Aside from the vastly popular BlackBerry's 9700, Jobs also showed demos of antenna reception issues from an HTC Droid Eris, a Samsung Omnia II and an iPhone 3GS. This is also documented in Apple's website.
Below is RIM's statement in full:
"Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."
- Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie
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