Apple acknowledges bug in iPhone software, offers fix

WASHINGTON: Apple Thursday acknowledged a bug in its iPhone software update that caused users to lose cellular service, offering a temporary fix and a full update "in the next few days."

A statement on Apple´s website was the first to acknowledge the problem, which came after numerous users complained on social media and online forums that the iOS 8.0.1 update left their phones largely inoperable.

The update was developed to add in fitness monitoring programs which were omitted from the iOS 8 platform released last week.

The Apple website acknowledged that the latest update, which was pulled shortly after its release Wednesday, caused a loss of cellular service and the touch identification which allows users to operate their phones with a fingerprint ID.

"We have a workaround for you if you have an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and you lost cellular service and Touch ID functionality today after updating to iOS 8.0.1," Apple said.

The temporary fix allows users to reinstall iOS 8 through iTunes."We are also preparing iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it as soon as it´s ready in the next few days," Apple added.

The news caused further embarrassment to Apple after some users posted comments about bends in the bodies of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus when carried in trouser pockets.