Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced today that iPhone 4 owners will be given a free bumper or case to alleviate the phone’s widely publicized antenna problem.

Customers who already bought a bumper or case from Apple will be refunded. The offer will expire on September 30, at which point, according to Jobs, “Maybe people will be less focused on this problem; maybe we’ll have a better idea.”

Jobs continued to insist that the problem that causes some iPhone 4s to suffer a dramatic loss in signal strength when held a certain way is most likely due to a software error that causes signal strength to be displayed inaccurately. A software fix for this problem is included in the iOS 4.0.1 patch.

Customers who are not satisfied with the software fix and free case will be able to return their iPhones to Apple for a full refund. Jobs also mentioned that consumers who signed a contract extension with AT&T to get a discounted price on their phone will be able to cancel that extension if they return their phone. (This has not yet been confirmed by AT&T.)