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Factory Unlocked iPhone 4 not working with a different SIM

Recently, I bought a factory unlocked iphone 4 in Australia and brought it back to India and activated the phone through iTunes using an already trimmed SIM(since there are no Micro sims available in my country) of 'Cellone' Carrier that I was using for my iPad since quite some time.

The phone got activated without any issues and I was able to use all the functionalities of it. However, my 'Cellone' SIM is meant for data usage on my ipad and for regular calling purpose, I want to use my 'Airtel' Carrier SIM. Hence, I have trimmed my Airtel SIM to fit into my new iphone 4.

However when I insert the Airtel SIM, the phone is not recognized it and shows the "No SIM" message. I'm very sure that I have properly trimmed the Airtel SIM because when I insert the same Airtel SIM in my Ipad 3G, Ipad recognizes it properly and I'm able to browse the web.

Also, on my new Iphone 4, I have inserted another Micro SIM (apart from the Cellone SIM) which it recognizes properly. All that the issue is it is just not recognizing my Airtel SIM.

This being the situation, now I have gone clueless. Firstly, I was under the assumption that Factory unlocked iphone allows to use only one carrier SIM (in my case the Cellone SIM). However, it seems my understanding is not correct, since the phone recognizes another Micro SIM. Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thanks much in advance.

Iphone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Sep 7, 2010 12:08 AM

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Posted on Sep 7, 2010 12:33 AM

I'm afraid that the most likely cause is that the sim card is damaged in some way. I would get Airtel to send a replacement if you can, test it in another phone and then try again.

Best regards.
72 replies

Sep 8, 2010 11:29 AM in response to girishramarao

Update: I got a new Airtel SIM. Trimmed it. Inserted into my iPhone 4. Guess what!!! It is working absolutely fine. But my question still remains unanswered. How my old Airtel SIM was working fine with iPad and not working with iPhone 4. Anyways i'm happy that I'm back in action with Airtel+my new iPhone4. Thanks much to a1000 for the right suggestion.

Sep 18, 2010 12:02 AM in response to girishramarao

Hey Girish,
I have bought an unlocked Iphone4 from UK's online store, I would like to know whether you used a Vodafone sim card and is your Airtel Sim card working perfectly?

Please answer my query dude coz im really tensed whether my Iphone4 will work with my Airtel Post Paid connection of Bangalore, Karnataka and also did you just cut the sim card with a cutter or you did it by yourself?

Let me know how you activated it also.

Please give me your email id and if possible your number too so that I can contact you.

Thanks a lot yaaar, waiting for your reply.
Liju

Sep 18, 2010 4:27 AM in response to Liju Mathew

Hi Liju,

There is nothing to worry at all. a FU iPhone works with any carrier including Airtel and Vodafone in any city of India. based on my experience that has been explained earlier in this thread, it is better to use a New SIM.

I prepared the micro sim on my own by cutting the sim with a cutter. It is quite a simple process. Just browse through web, you get lot of info on that. As far as activation process is concerned, it is **** simple. Insert micro SIM into phone. Connect it to iTunes and register it. That's it. Your phone gets activated within few seconds.
Mail me at girishramarao<at>gmail<dot>com for any more questions

<Edited by Host>

Sep 25, 2010 3:30 PM in response to girishramarao

Hi Girish,

I have iPhone 4 running on iOS4.1(baseband 02.10.04). This is Factory Unlocked and I bought it from Australia. Whenever I insert YouSIM(3-in-1 SIM), I could see all apps and could navigate through all features of iPhone 4 except making calls as YouSIM is just a phonebook SIM. But whenever I use Airtel MicroSIM(made from Mini SIM), I could see only emergency screen. Can you please suggest how should I activate my iPhone4.

Sep 25, 2010 8:13 PM in response to tintin_rk

Hi Tintin,
Well make sure your Airtel Sim card is cut by a micro sim card cutter, coz if its not a perfect fit then it wont get activated , it happened to me(i tried cutting my spare sim cards, but none of dem were perfect) , so get it done at a shop or through a micro sim card cutter and as as u put proper micro sim card, den plug in ur Iphone4 and connect it to Itunes and just follow the instructions it will get activated.
Hope it helps.

Sep 27, 2010 10:50 AM in response to mrmishra

Finally, I managed to solve the problem. Now, I can conclude that my previous sim cards were of 2004-2005 and they were having issues with the iPhone 4. I tried cutting a new AIRTEL SIM with the same specifications 15 * 12 mm. Finally the new SIM Card worked fine with the iPhone 4.
Thank you all for your tips posted on this forum.
Regards, Asit

Factory Unlocked iPhone 4 not working with a different SIM

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