No going home till engineers find a fix for iPhone snafu

At Apple Inc, “working our butts off” means cots in the engineering department and cars in the parking lot at all hours of the night.

Seeking a solution to the antenna flaw that is dropping calls for some iPhone 4 users, CEO Steve Jobs said on Friday that employees started a round-the-clock effort to improve the reception amid complaints since the device’s debut on June 24.

Jobs offered customers free rubber cases that prevent the dropped calls by covering the external antenna on the left-hand corner of the iPhone. That will stop users from gripping it in a way that interferes with reception. He is giving full refunds to buyers who are still dissatisfied.

Every iPhone 4 buyer will either get a free rubberized case called a Bumper or the option to choose another case if Apple Bumpers aren’t available , Jobs said. People who already bought a $29 Bumper will get a refund.