My son got one of the first generation I-phones, lately he has had trouble with dropping calls and not receiving text messages. My boss and his wife also have one. They have the 3g, however he hates it, again he will not get calls or text messages at times. He gets bad reception in areas that should be good. His wife loves hers. If it helps at all, my son is due for an upgrade and he isn't getting the i-phone, he is switching.
I noticed that Terri's cell from work is a smart phone through Sprint. She can't get reception here at the house, where the rest of us can. I am beginning to wonder if it has to do with the technology of the smart phones, like the internal antenna or something like that.