1) Stand on one leg, preferably facing the cell tower. 2) Use your other leg to form a crude counterpoise for the iPhone4's various antennas. Also, experiments in dry/low-humidity regions which lead to dry/chapped hands may also contribute to your success making and holding a call. What other company could get away with producing a product like this and succeed?

Good detective work. This story dates back to the 1880's. Try using Google sometime.
http://www.qsl.net/w5www/marfa.html
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/article s/MM/lxm1.html