How do I turn off 3G on the iPhone 4S?

I always said that iPhone offers only the most basic call forwarding while even the entry level GSM phones have settings for advanced level call forwarding. If a particular type of call forwarding is not available from a carrier, it would be greyed out in these phones. Though I obviously cannot speak for each and every GSM phone released till date, I haven't seen these features missing in any GSM phone and I have seen some in last 15 years.

Coming back to the main point, this is but one of the numerous examples how Apple can choose not to offer an easily implementable feature. I believe that the software/hardware toggle issue can only be settled by Apple and they are not going to come out with a statement (typically) unless the situation snowballs to another antenna-gate.

Going through other forums on the toggle issue, I found that this problem is present even in some of the prime areas of US and Europe. I believe that more than 50% of the users all over the world are going to face difficulties on their iphone 4S if they keep 3G activated from the carrier.

It is a matter of creating awareness on this issue.

The features ar

Mike Snp wrote:

"I always said that iPhone offers only the most basic call forwarding while even the entry level GSM phones have settings for advanced level call forwarding."

"I haven't seen these features missing in any GSM phone…"

The call forwarding features aren't missing. They are available via standard "GSM Feature Codes", though not all features will be available on all carriers. Apple isn't restricting the iPhone from any of these call forwarding features, your carrier might, but not Apple.

You are not reading my post properly and trying to defend the indefensible. I have never said these features cannot be activated through carrier codes.

I have said that Apple provides for the most basic part of call forwarding. For conditional call forwarding, one has to use carrier codes.But that is so inconvinient that hardly any one would take that route. Even if you download a app for this purpose, the experience caanot be compared to the built in features of other phones.

Apple, like all other GSM phone manfucaturers, should have provided these options in the settings menu.

I thought I am the only one you can't understand my post.. apparently you can't understand other people's posts as well and keep on replying something that is not in sync with our main points.

I agree with Mike, call forwarding is there but not all other possible features are available.

I have used several other conditional forwarding on other brands of phones but Apple only have the standard call forwarding to a single number.

Perhaps you are not so familiar with the GSM while you seem pretty conversant with CDMA..

call forwarding is carrier and network dependent. It is facilitated on the network end, not by the particular model of cell phone you have. it doesn't matter if there is a dumb menu on a particular model of phone or not, since there are GSM feature codes, where you can customize call forwarding features personally.

Comparing a full feathered software call forwarding menu to a missing 3G/2G toggle is flawed, since one is conditional to the carrier and network facility, rather than hardware specific. A GSM feature code won't toggle 3G/2G, if the phone hardware doesn't support it.

I think next time don't bother to reply to my posts.. Obviously you do not understand us. We are saying one thing and you are replying something else.. I see that happening to several of your posts not just to me but also the rest.

Just take it that we are on the different frequency......... xD

Part of the problem is that this thread is about a manual switch to go from 3G to 2G, not about call forwarding so you and the other person have essentially tried to hijack the thread. Post your own on the subject if your are that interested or, since Apple has never offered this at least in the US, but a different phone that does it.

You can turn off 3G by turning the cellular data switch on or off. If all you want to do is save battery life and receive calls, turning the setting off sets it to GSM mode. You won't be able to surf but that is the trade off.

Thats not correct, if u disable celluar u just cut off all data flow and thats it, but calls n sms still go through 2G/3G depending on your current location.

Ashley,

My sentiments excatly😉,

Deggie,

Agreed, shouldn't have allowed myself to be distracted by a someone's needle struck in a groove.

carlfromharrow,

Turning off cellular data does not get you into 2G mode. The phone stays in 3G voice mode with all its signal strength problems until the 3G signal disappears or the carrier disables your 3G access. Only then does the phone switches to 2G mode.

I think using the Apple feedback would not yield any result. I believe we should all mail to influential tech/news sites who are reviewing phones to report this issue. Only when these sites highlight the problem would Apple realize that it has an obligation to offer a solution to the sufferers.

It's very disappointing not being able to choose between 3G and EDGE. I always had Wi-Fi on at work, but when I left or went to appointments in other areas, my Iphone 4 skipped to EDGE ; if I wanted Speed, I would turn 3G on.

Now with the 4S, I am between Wi-Fi and 3G(first option, almost always), ergo, less energy!!!

EDGE is not bad, it's a good way to stay connected to simple apps and notifications! what's wrong with using EDGE in 3G areas?!

Please, include it!!!!!!!!!!!

I want 2G - 3G switch too. I had enogh intrerrupted calls since I have my 4S, because I leave in a zone where 3G signal is fluctuating .

I hope Apple will consider ours words and will include the switch again.

A Happy New Year to you all!

Well, I work in Denmark and live in Germany ... yes, the 4s (which I bought for my wife not knowing that 3G cannot be turned on/off anymore) can do both EDGE and 3G, BUT I'm not going to by a 4s for myself before I can turn 3G on/off like I can on my iPhone 3G ... for me this is not only about the battery it also has something to do with (believe it or not) the radiation of 3G being much harder on the human body than EDGE / GMS: http://www.bevolution.dk/pdf/BrainwavemodelBevolutionGB.pdf

I get that you can't turn off 3G on this iPhone, but when Apple releases their next iPhone which could possibly have 4G LTE. Would I be able to turn off 4G like you can in some current 4G Android phones?

Depends on which radio chipset Apple chooses to use and whether they include that capability. On some of the current LTE phones the reason you can do that is they have separate radio chips, not one hybrid chip.