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Unlocked German iPhone not working

So I had the pleasure to give Apple and T-mobile 999 euros for an iPhone. After 30 hours it activates in iTunes but there the glory end.

* I can't call the phone (the hourglass just runs and then the phone jumps out to screensaver)
* I can't open the SMS app after receiving SMS
* I can't open last-calls list
* I can't dial phone numbers in the dial-app.

Are there anybody else who has this problems?

I use an unlocked German iPhone with Swedish carrier SIMs (Telenor and Telia).

Regards
Patrik

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Nov 25, 2007 1:35 PM

334 replies

aTallMacUser Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2007 3:21 AM in response to petvas

So another no-brainer-answer from T-Mobile

+Dear Mr Patrik Olson+

+We recommend you to connect your Iphone with your PC/Itunes and select "Restore".+

+This operation can take a few minutes and it is important that your PC is online while you restore.+

+The Problem should solved with this action.+

+For further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.+

+Best Regards+

I did it last night, no difference... Anybody seen an update from Apple.... 😟

/Patrik

Nov 28, 2007 3:58 AM in response to aTallMacUser

Hey! After a long wait for the activation of my (legally) unlocked german (bought in Germany not at Saturn) phone, now I encounter the SAME problems as we all do:

- No EDGE
- SMS Phone fails after first SMS or call and with the dialpad anyway

I have read the whole thread and will phone with apple germany today but i guess we have not much hope?

Greets from Vienna

Nov 28, 2007 4:09 AM in response to aTallMacUser

Just as a consideration:

Post "bug reports" here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

You might refer, that illegaly cracked phones DO work, until the Version 1.1.1 and ours does not work, cause they made it more difficult the usage with other carriers in 1.1.2

Nov 28, 2007 4:27 AM in response to lecomtesse

Hi lecomtesse,

welcome to the club and thank you for the link!

In any way, it's a good idea to talk to the Apple support, to let them know that there are more of us.

I'm curious, how they will handle the unlocking in France and if french iPhones will work in other countries. If they do, we might have a chance that ours will as well.

So my advise for now (beside from bugging Apple) is to clarify until when you are entitled to return the phone (and get your money back) and wait for Apple to come up with something until short before this periode ends.

Nov 28, 2007 5:10 AM in response to Gerald Petschk

Yes that is a good question. But they MUST solve the problem, as we all bought a product which promises to work and it does not. I clearly communicated my intension to use the phone in austria, besides, within the eu such a discrimination is not possible.
On the other hand, cracked phones do work, so they just need to loosen up the restrictions made with version 1.1.2.
I will call at apple anyway later this day. Basic functions must work. And SMS and Phone is very basic for a phone.
Ah and an other apell:
*SEND ALL BUG REPORTS WHICH APPEAR AT SYNCING TO APPLE!!!*
If you are unlocked legally you have nothing to lose!

Message was edited by: lecomtesse

Nov 28, 2007 5:38 AM in response to herewego

Vodafone is the world's largest mobile phone network by number of users.

http://www.vodafone.com/

Vodafone's complaint may be driven partly by sour grapes (after all, they were expected to get an Europe-wide distribution deal with Apple) - but they may have a legal case in challenging the exclusive agreements. In some EU countries it is illegal to completely tie a phone to one particular carrier - you can provide a SIM-locked version for less (at least upfront) as part of a contract, but an unlocked version has to be on sale too.

aTallMacUser Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2007 6:02 AM in response to Mika Inkinen

Here is the final answer, I wont reply them anymore (I think). Can anybody confirm that they have got the €999 unlocked german iPhone to work with a SIM-card NOT from a country that sells the iPhone?

+Dear Mr. Olsen,+

+we only provide two different firmware versions. one in locked to+
+t-mobile with a contract and can't be used with any other sim card.+
+The second software version is unlocked an can be used with any sim+
card.

+You bougth a iphone for 999? and therefore you have the unlocked+
+iphone. The evidence for us and for you is, that the e-plus sim card+
+works well with all services. We have the experience that the iphone+
+need the very latest sim card generation.+

+T-Mobile can't support services and settings other providers. Please+
+contact your service provider and apple to configure your iphone with+
+your sim card.+

+You can contact the apple helpdesk by calling...+

+from Sweden (46) 0771 199 519+
+from Germany (49) 01805 009 433+

petvas

Level 2

284 points

Nov 28, 2007 6:40 AM in response to lecomtesse

Bug Reports should be made at http://bugreport.apple.com
You will need an ADC account but you can register for free

Nov 28, 2007 7:12 AM in response to aTallMacUser

Status Report from today:
As I read in this thread in the mornig, somebody suggested to switch the regional setting to Germany I did so:
Everthing worked fine the whole day, I can use the number pad, use Messages, Caller lists. Had not one Problem today. Just now I did a sync at home, still everthing fine.
By the way: Edge is working w my A1 SIM, even before.

So for me the problem has now a acceptable workaround, for sure I am expecting a fix also for the austrian regional setting.

Also I was in Passau today and bought the BT Headset: cool. I asked the lady there, if they heard from problems w other than German Simcards, but they don't, even they have sold some iPhones to austrians. Somewhere else in the forum I read, the iPhone has to be connected first w a german t-Mobile card to itunes, after that reset the network settings and someone can use other Simcards. This seems not to be true, they just call a hotline and report the IMEI.

So, best regards to everybody
Christian

aTallMacUser Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2007 7:23 AM in response to Christian Boehm

Hi Christian!

That is good news, please inform us if the status change. So to clearify,

You have a Austrian SIM-card?
You just changed the regional setting to German and rebooted the phone and it worked?

I have a swedish card and tryed it, but same problem.

Regards
Patrik

Nov 28, 2007 7:29 AM in response to aTallMacUser

I did not reboot, I just changed the regional setting, and immediatly it worked.

I hope the best for you.
cheers
C

Nov 28, 2007 7:30 AM in response to Christian Boehm

have you recieved a call yet?

please tell us which sim card you are using

thx bernahrd

Nov 28, 2007 7:39 AM in response to Christian Boehm

Yes - please confirm that, cause i have changed the regional settings and it had no effect. (Although I have unread messageses in the SMS - which I can not view - should i restore the whole thing?)
So please let us know how you made it work.. 😉

Message was edited by: lecomtesse

Nov 28, 2007 7:33 AM in response to faserferl

Yes, I recieved calls and messages.

Best regards
C

Nov 28, 2007 7:34 AM in response to Christian Boehm

an which sim card?

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Unlocked German iPhone not working