I keep switching back and forth on the antenna debate. Other phones have the issue, but are they as serious as the iPhone 4? As Apple has called out numerous manufacturers and popular phones, even John Gruber has been linking to preexisting issues which have received little press in light of the massive ‘popularity’ of the iPhone 4. With something as curious as an outside antenna, people want to touch it. With other phones, people don’t even think about antenna placement. So let’s take a trip back to 2006 before the iPhone even existed.

The Loop reports,

In fact, Samsung was putting warning labels on some of its phones as far back as 2006. The label, which was on the back of the phone, told customers they shouldn’t obstruct the bottom of the phone during a phone call.

I was able to find the label on two models of phones dating back to 2006, although it’s certainly possible that the labels could have been on earlier models.

The Samsung SYNC and the Samsung Blackjack both came with these labels on the back of the devices, according to reviews in 2006 on Phone Scoop and MSNBC respectively.

Perhaps the iPhone 4 should come with a sticker.

[via The Loop]