We previously wrote about the current issue of the new iPhone 4 having issues with reception when held with the hand covering the two antennas on the bottom-left part of the device. Apple, after previously stating it was a software bug, now says this:

Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.

So if they recognize that this is a problem, why isn't the bumper free? And while this may happen to any mobile phone, at least most mobile phones do not include exterior antennas, which is what causes this problem to appear so commonly.

Let us know what you think about Apple's response after the break.