SIM card tray issue stops the use of the iPhone

Question

Level 1

8 points

SIM card tray issue stops the use of the iPhone

I purchased 2 weeks ago the iPhone 3G.
I pulled out the tray with the eject tool and than I installed careful the empty tray back in the SIM slot to understand the mechanism of the SIM tray. After trying to pull the tray again out the tray was locked and there was no way to get the tray out of the slot.
The store where I puchased the iPhone told me the SIM tray is in the wrong direction in the slot and the phone has to be re-sent to Apple for repair.
I am using different mobile phones with SIM cards for many years, I had also the iPhone 2G and there was never any problem with the SIM tray. It was impossible to install the SIM tray in the wrong direction.
Anybody with the some problem ? Apple`s reaction?

MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz Core2Duo 2GB, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jul 28, 2008 8:12 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 28, 2008 12:43 PM in response to gamapa

It sounds like Apple has already told you the problem. A lot of phones have sim trays that fit in only one direction.

Sounds like they are doing the same thing they would do here in the States -- return for repair. Sorry you will be iPhoneless until they do.

I don't know how long it takes in Europe, but here in the US, turnaround time is usually less than 5 days. Some people have their phones back 2 days later.

Reply

Answer 2

gamapa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 28, 2008 4:13 PM in response to RonAnnArbor

If I understand correctely, Apple is knowing about the problem with the SIM tray with the iPhone G3? Here in Europe is silecence, nobody seems to know the issue with the tray.

The difference between the SIM tray of the G2 unit and the G3 unit is realy astonishing. The material of the G2 tray is stable and precise, where the material of the G3 tray is poor and unstable - nonsensical cost reduction creating real problems.

We have on paper also the max 5 days turnaround rule for repair in Europe of Apple products. But we are in Europe.......

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 28, 2008 4:26 PM in response to gamapa

I can't see for the life of me how you could have been able to put the sim card in backwards. If you look at the sim card tray (top portion with pin hole), it is designed to lock shut only one way. This makes no sense. ??

Reply

Answer 4

gamapa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2008 4:54 AM in response to Peter K. Grether

I wrote in my post: I installed careful the empty tray back in the SIM slot.

There was no SIM card in. OK?

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 29, 2008 6:22 AM in response to gamapa

The SIM tray is a flake on the iPhone. They can be delicate things, but for a slide out of the body type, this is a design disaster waiting to happen.

You've fallen victim, nearly did myself.

Personally, I could not find the bleein sim tray, it was totally flush and seemingly painted over. After careful reading of the manual I discovered where it should be, but then was not aware that they had included a sim extractor, it's very much better than the end of a paper clip that Apple recommend in the absence of a sim tray tool ~~

Call me stupid, but I did not know what that ornament was for, I was about to make a post saying they should have one in the box, and I rooted though the box ~ again ~ and there it was, I only recognised it after the fact.

I'd agree that the design is very poor and is too easily put in the wrong way, I had to look very carefully at the manual to get it in correctly myself, I was trying to get it in the wrong way, but was afraid I'd break it.

Reply

Answer 6

Jul 29, 2008 6:42 AM in response to gamapa

I have to agree with Peter on this.
Yes, it is a bit of a flimsy sim tray and could easily break.
But looking at the design of the sim tray it would be practically impossible to insert it the wrong way whether the sim card is inserted in or not, because at the top there is an extended piece of plastic, that would prevent the tray going in the wrong way, unless perhaps it was broken for it to fit in.
To have it fit in the wrong way, would have had to be forced in with the result that the top part broken.

Reply

Answer 7

gamapa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2008 7:17 AM in response to Anthony J Howe

I am sorry but there is no any piece of the sim tray broken. Yes, you can insert the tray in the wrong direction without forcing anything. An other customer of the store where I purchased the 3G had the same problem and his iPhone 3 G is now fro repair. This SIM tray of the 3G model is mechanicly poorly designed where the SIM tray of the older 2G model is much better designed and makes it impossible to insert wrongly.

I have the 2G (legally SIM unlocked) for 8 months and I am regulary changing the SIM card, depending the country where I am travelling. It`s normal to try to insert sometime in the wrong direction but the construction of the tray has to stop the wrong operation. If you used more than 10 different (unlocked) mobile phones around the world without any problem with the SIM tray than you understand the anger with the 3G model.

The reason for my post was simply to ask if anybody was experiencing the some problem and warning the forum.

Reply

Answer 8

gamapa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 30, 2008 4:23 AM in response to gamapa

May I should be more precise with the issue:
You can insert without forcing the SIM card tray of the iPhone 3G in the wrong direction in the slot.
The tray does not enter fully in the slot because of the little pin in the top of the tray. But the tray is enough deeply in the slot and becomes blocked/locked. It is not possible to pull out the tray of the slot. The only solution is the repair by Apple.

I hope Apple is aware about this poor tray design and will react.

Reply

Answer 9

Jul 30, 2008 5:19 AM in response to gamapa

gamapa wrote:

The tray does not enter fully in the slot because of the little pin in the top of the tray. But the tray is enough deeply in the slot and becomes blocked/locked. It is not possible to pull out the tray of the slot. The only solution is the repair by Apple.

I now I have a good idea what your saying. And if enters as you say, then it would be difficult to take it out again, requiring a repair by apple

Now look at this picture, where you see a red circle around where a lip or extended piece of the tray that I mentioned earlier. If you turned it around the lip piece prevents you entering or upside down the insert edges would also prevent entry.
Is your sim tray similar or different to mine?

Reply

Answer 10

gamapa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 30, 2008 11:34 AM in response to Anthony J Howe

Yes, it is the same tray as in your photo. It has what I called a little pin and you call it a little lip. This lip prevents to install the tray downside insteed upside (the lip does not allow to enter the tray) but you can enter the tray mixing up front and back side until the lip is stopping the proceedure. If you try than carefull to pull out the tray, the tray will be blocked and there is no way to get the tray out of the slot. The only solution seems to be the repair by Apple.

Thank you for your interest. Again, I hope Apple will react soon as such a issue with a little poor designed piece of plastic will completely stop the use of the iPhone. I purchased the 3G in Italy on 12 July and made the mistake with the tray the same day, bringing the 3G back to the carreer store the same day and until now (30 July) I don`t got the repaired unit back. 18 days without the brand new phone.

Reply