Embarrassment for Apple as holding iPhone 4 'the wrong way' causes glitch

Apple responded to complaints about its iPhone 4 today by telling users who suffered from poor reception they were holding the phone the wrong way.

Dozens of videos have been uploaded to YouTube showing the £499 handset losing reception if users hold it a certain way, dubbed the "Apple death grip".

Apple boss Steve Jobs responded to one complaint by saying: "Just avoid holding it in that way."

The issue occurs because the phone's design has placed the antenna in a metal band on the outside of the case.

Apple today said: "Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone."