[algotechie]

The antenna in the E71 model is situated in the bottom of the keypad, next to the microphone. I generally handle the phone in the left hand while I work on the other things with the right hand. Actually, except while typing something on the phone, most of the time it's in my left hand, with the antenna behind the palm (or the palm behind the antenna). Do you think it causes some health or reception issues? The SAR emission from this model is already more than double of most other models.

So far, I've not noticed the signal strength dwindling with my normal handling of the phone. The call quality is the best I've ever experienced in any other brand. The voice is clear, crisp, and very real. My concern is, then, with the effect of constantly using the phone for web browsing or for the calls on the human body. Will it adversely impact me or my hand?

Don't you think the antennas should always be on the top (but on the backside to reduce their impact near the head while talking)? Why do people come up with the new ideas that make little sense? And then, how many of us get to know where the antenna in any new phone model is? If the position is a fixed one, at least everyone will know how to hold the phone right.

[jimmyireland]

in the user guide the position of the antenna is shown
as for where to position the antenna this is down to the manufacturer and the space available and design

[algotechie]

In he user guide on page 14, it says avoid touching the antennas while it's transmitting or receiving. On the next page, it shows two spots (the top and bottom portions of the phone) where the user should avoid touching.

It seems that there are the top antennas and the bottom antennas. Okay. So where do I hold the phone then? Grasping from the middle feels a bit weird and I'm sure most people aren't doing that. I've not seen people holding their mobiles from the middle and avoiding the top and bottom portions.

Yes the manufacturer does get to choose the position but they're not perfect every time, as Apple proved recently with the iPhone 4 antenna design. This happens when the designers do not take into account the common sense. Given a phone, where would you hold it first of all, without knowing about its internals? Most likely, you will be resting its bottom portion on your palm so it doesn't slip. The contact on the top can be avoided but on the bottom? And in the case of the E71, both of these areas are occupied by the antennas.

I'd say it's not a good design from a user's perspective. From someone who doesn't have to use it, though, of course the more antennas the better.