Consumer Reports, the product review magazine, says that enclosing the iPhone 4 in a "bumper" case would eliminate reception problems. The assessment could precede a move by Apple to give away the case for free to iPhone 4 owners.

Days after the consumer testing publication gave the iPhone 4 a negative review due to reception issues; the organization confirms that it has been in contact with Apple over its results. The publication went back and tested the iPhone 4 again, this time with the bumper case. The iPhone 4 cases, which are plastic and rubber skirts that fit the edges of the phone, "solves the signal-strength problem," said the magazine in a blog post.

"With the Bumper fitted, we repeated the test procedure, placing a finger on the Bumper at the point at which it covers the gap [on the lower left side of the case]... the result was a negligible drop in signal strength -- so slight that it would not have any effect, in our judgment."

The cases sell for $29. The magazine only tested Apple's case, though it says that it was planning on assessing other cases. The result was the first assessment of the Bumper's effect from an independent testing facility. Bloggers have already posted similar evaluations in the past weeks.