Various online forums–and a test call with a few iPhone 4 owners and those with iPhone 3GS upgrades to iOS 4–are revealing another problem with iPhone 4, and in particular iOS 4, regarding Bluetooth connectivity. With iOS 4, the only OS option available for iPhone 4 owners, users are noting that they are getting weak Bluetooth reception, muffled sounds, static, and sounds that come in and out, and poor call quality over Bluetooth. SlashGear notes that owners of upgraded iPhone 3GS handsets or iPhone 4 units with the latest OS preloaded…describing sporadic connections, an inability to play music wirelessly and poor audio quality during calls.

With some test calls to various iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS owners with iOS 4 across the country using their Bluetooth headset of choice, I’ve been able to replicate the problems described as far as call quality over Bluetooth. In my calls, I’ve used my iPhone running iOS 4 through the regular earpiece and with a case to isolate against any antenna interference. All the parties I called had their phones in cases or on a table to not interfere with the antenna and those people also used a Bluetooth headset. In 7 of 10 calls, I’ve noticed a lot of muffling and with audio dropping in and out–those issues disappeared when users switched back to the earpiece or used the phone’s speakerphone. I did not test the stereo Bluetooth issue for music playback described by some iPhone owners in the forums.

Online support forums show that the issue isn’t particularly isolated to any one brand of Bluetooth headsets or products, with Jawbone, Motorola, and Plantronics headsets being affected. Because the issue has arisen with iPhone 3GS owners who upgraded to iOS 4, we’re hopeful that this may be a software glitch that may be fixed with a future update. However, unlike the antennagate problem, Apple hasn’t been forthcoming with the Bluetooth connectivity issue and is not currently acknowledging said problem.

(via: SlashGear)