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Apple has removed the videos of competitor phones from a web page which aimed to show that all phones suffer from grip-related reception problems.
Following the "antennagate" press conference, Apple created a new web page at www.apple.com/antenna which sought to provide evidence of Apple boss Steve Job’s claims that grip related receptions issues were "a challenge for the whole industry."
The web page hosted multiple videos of iPhone competitors such as the HTC Droid Eris, Samsung Omnia II, Nokia N97, BlackBerry Bold 9700 and most recently the Motorola Droid X. Each of the videos showed reception falls when covering the handsets in a particular area.
Apple’s comments had draw wide criticism from rival manufacturers with BlackBerry manufacturer RIM saying "Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable."
While the rival handsets have been removed from the US page they were still present on International versions. The US site is now focusing on publicising the $100m Apple Antenna Design Labs facility. It’s unclear whether the removal of rival phones from the Apple web page is the result of possible legal pressure.
More likely the move represents a ramping down of the uncharacteristically bellicose PR response as the company seeks to draw a line under the issue following the ongoing "bumper" giveaway.
The videos remain on Apple’s YouTube channel.
Image credit: Apple
