Apple Executive Leaves After iPhone 4 Blunder
Mark Papermaster, senior vice-president of devices hardware engineering, has left Apple after a host of problems with reception on the iPhone 4, which went on sale on 24th June.
The problems were compounded when Apple admitted that the formula it used to calculate signal strength was wrong, forcing them to issue a software fix to make amends.
But the string of complaints and strong media criticism led Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder and chief executive, to publicly address the issue at a speedily arranged press conference, where he stated that there was nothing wrong with the phone but offered customers a special case to stop reception issues.
Mr Papermaster, 49, joined Apple just 15 months ago from International Business Machines Corp., but has been forced to leave the company after a succession of problems with the device. People familiar with the situation have also cited a falling out with Steve Jobs as a reason for his departure.
The iPhone 4, a key product for Apple, has been beset with problems since its release, such as antenna reception (dubbed ‘antennagate’), supply problems for the black model and delayed production of a white version of the device.
Insiders have indicated that Mr Papermaster fell out of favour with Steve Jobs months ago, and had been left out of the decision-making process for some time. They added that Mr Papermaster didn’t have the creative faculties expected at Apple, and found it hard to adapt to Apple’s corporate culture, where even senior executives are expected to scrutinize and keep on top of even the smallest details of their areas of responsibility, and often have to deal with many tasks directly.
Papermaster began working at Apple in April 2009, while Jobs was on sick leave for a liver transplant. The two may have clashed when Jobs returned later that year, although Apple won’t officially state whether Papermaster quit of his own volition or was ousted.
On 23rd July, Apple released a downloadable app that allows iPhone 4 customers to get a free case, or “bumper,” which is designed to protect the phone from the so-called ‘grip of death bug’ which impairs antenna performance. Apple has claimed that the program may cost it as much as $175 million.
Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesman, has said that Papermaster’s duties as senior VP for Device Engineering will be taken up by Mac hardware chief Bob Mansfield.
Dowling said in a statement, “Mr. Mansfield already manages groups that create many of the key technologies for the iPhone and the iPod touch, including the A4 chip, Retina display and touch screens.”
Before joining Apple, Papermaster had worked at IBM for more than 20 years. He was heavily recruited by Apple, leading IBM to file a lawsuit against Papermaster when he attempted to leave. IBM accused him of violating a noncompetition agreement and said it feared he would reveal company secrets in his new position.
IBM eventually settled, letting Papermaster join Apple and take over from Tony Fadell, who had a major role in the development of the iPod.
