Every smart phone I've owned, mostly T-mobile Sidekicks and now an iPhone, has had slightly worse reception than a 'normal' phone on the same network. So I take

Every smart phone I've owned, mostly T-mobile Sidekicks and now an iPhone, has had slightly worse reception than a 'normal' phone on the same network. So I take it as a given that the iPhone trades a bit of reception strength for better battery life, but not to the point of dropped calls. Those fall strictly on AT&T shoulders in my eyes.