You get better, a lot better, 3G service with no apps or music or anything on the phone? I restored my wife's iPhone and started over. Once it loaded 2.2 I took it off the dock and I had 5 bars of 3G! I look at my phone and I have 5 bars of Edge. 
I turn off 3G and turn it back on, on my phone, it comes up 1 bar 3G then goes to edge. So I conclude think maybe I need to take mine to an apple store.
So I put all her stuff on the phone, and pull it off and guess what? She is now on edge and cannot hold a 3G connection either.
Anyone else notice this? So if you have apps and things that can use 3G maybe the software reduces 3G connectivity? If so it's pretty shady.
I turn off 3G and turn it back on, on my phone, it comes up 1 bar 3G then goes to edge. So I conclude think maybe I need to take mine to an apple store.So I put all her stuff on the phone, and pull it off and guess what? She is now on edge and cannot hold a 3G connection either.
Anyone else notice this? So if you have apps and things that can use 3G maybe the software reduces 3G connectivity? If so it's pretty shady.