can't turn 3g off on iPhone 4s

I just received my UK version, 16GB white, suffering from almost the same problem. when the phone in ideal, I discover that it is not accutally online. cant make or reecieve phone calls even with full signal. then it goes to the seaching mode but does not connect to any.

NO SERVICE always appears, specially when moving in the city, i always loose the signal, and i CANT FIX THIS UNLESS I RESTART THE PHONE OR RE-INSERT THE SIM CARD.

i cant figure the problem out and now i decided not to use the phone till apple solve this issue. IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED.

My 4S was getting very weakk 3g reception at a restaurant last nite and i indeed saw the E symbol finally pop up. It wasnt seamless or an instant switchover but it does work. Still have yet to see the dot symbol for GPRS; hope i never have to either.

I can confirm this is not iOS 5 related. I have the iPhone 4 (not 4S) running iOS 5 and I am still able to switch off the 3G.

I have same issue as many of you. At my home I get just enough 3G signal that it won't automatically switch to Edge, but not enough of a 3G signal to make/receive calls. And leaving it on 3G ***** the battery very fast. I manually switch to edge and 5 bars no droped calls.

Hi

As somebody whom uses the IPhone 4 and has also got a 4S I offer the following observations re this issue.

The network I am using is Orange in the UK and since Last September Orange customers are able to network share with TMobile.

This has meant that I personally have seen a significant improvement in call quality and signal retention on my IPhone 4.

The IPhone 4 is set to (IOS 5 update applied) to on and Cellular Data enabled.

I am on the Orange T Mobile network and signal quality is four to five bars on average.

The IPhone 4S is a quad band phone e.g. It's supposed to be a world phone and in theory should switch to the best available network which in the case of Orange customers with degraded signal quality should be TMobile.

The IPhone 4 is in carrier mode disabled happy to remain in Orange T Mobile.

The 4S doesn't even have Orange T Mobile as an option in the carrier list and it shows as T Mobile.

The fact is that this is not carrier specific it is Apple implemented,

You can turn off 3G on the IPhone 4 with IOS 5 not so on the 4S,

It will not allow at present me to lock on to the TMobile signal on the 4S I suspect this is due to the fact that it is a 2 G signal!

Apple I understand and I would request clarification on this please we are all here to help one another as knowledge shared is increased, introduced different configured handsets carrier region specific on the IPhone 4 as different from on the 4s.

The issue at present is this in terms of signal quality the IPhone 4 is outperforming the 4S.

The 4S doesn't allow switching between Orange and T Mobile resulting in highly degraded performance where the iphone 4 is outperforming the 4S.

Siri is only fully available for US customers not UK.

3G coverage in the UK on Orange is at present patchy as network is upgraded.

Cannot turn off automatic network selection in carrier menu as handset shows no service as opposed to

4 in which I can do so.

I am waiting to see if a update will be implemented otherwise will be returning this handset.

I live in Central London and am also on Orange/TMobile. I have swapped my iphone 4 for a 4S and regret it enormously. I only get one bar of 3G which isnt enough to receive calls but just enough to prevent 2G from kicking in. I therefore spend all day returning messages! The battery is also useless on 3G. I've complained to Apple and they seem to think they will Eventually make this phone able to switch back to 2G, but I'm not holding my breath! Sadly I've sold my 4 so am unable to return the 4S! Wish I hadn't been so hasty. I HATE THIS PHONE!

SEND FEEDBACK TO

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I believe that's the only way Apple get to read our gripes

guys, i have been suffering from the same problem but i READ SOMEWHERE, IF YOU DISABLE THE PIN CODE YOUR PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED. I tried it and it REALLY WORKS.

now i have a good signal and my phone is always on.

What pin code? I don't have a pin on my SIM. How can you add a feature that doesn't exist.

After calling Apple Care 3 times, I was just informed by a senior advisor that they will NOT be able to change this feature via an update, since it is hardware related. They said that feauture will no longer be available in new phones unless Apple changes its mind and releases a new model with that feature. As of now, if you own a 4s, you will not be getting that feature.

This is a very bad news indeed, im still hoping its not like that

tscavetti wrote:

After calling Apple Care 3 times, I was just informed by a senior advisor that they will NOT be able to change this feature via an update, since it is hardware related. They said that feauture will no longer be available in new phones unless Apple changes its mind and releases a new model with that feature. As of now, if you own a 4s, you will not be getting that feature.

Firstly - I have just had my last response to this deleted by Apple Mods! Thanks Guys! After EVERYTHING I have personally done for you recently. Tut Tut. Anyway 3 things were cited, one of which was 'speculation or rumours' - I am about to repost part of my last text which is neither speculation nor rumour:

The iPhone 4s is capable of automatically switching from 3G to EDGE to GPRS as the signal dictates - There is not a hard swicth to do this therefore this IS software controlled. And Apple have chosen to remove this feature.

Anyway, it's a shame Apple aren't as quick to react to restore the missing 'Enable 3G' toggle as they are to stifle free speech!

Yeah, that's what I said to the apple care agent (that if it could switch from 2G to 3G there should be a way to control it via softward, but she insisted that because of the inclusion of CDMA technology, and the new antennae, they are not able to control the automatic switching. I believe she said it was mostly due to the way the new antenna functions.

I am guessing they "chose" to take the option away from the 4 in some cases, but that the exclusion of the 4s is actually hardware based, because I know that Verizon phones have never had this option. I am hoping you are RIGHT though, because I want software to fix this problem.

Don't understand all the hoop-la in this thread. I have a 4G S and don't have any trouble making calls with cellular data turned off. It doesn't effect my "bar count" one way or the other. I assume in this mode, I'm making a straight old fashion cell call.

Granted, with cellular OFF, you won't be able to make a call AND surf the net at the same time if you don't have a wifi connection as ATT likes to brag on THEIR IP service verses the other guys.

You don't understand the hoopla because you don't understand the question or the issue.

You are confusing "turning cellular data off" with being able to choose - on AT&T iPhones only - that on every single version of those iPhones the user could choose between accessing ONLY 2G/Edge networks (which use much less battery and gives much wider and more reliable cell call connections) or allowing the phone to always connect to any available 3G network (which does allow the user to access the Internet while on a cell call if one chooses to) but in iffy areas cell calls often drop and battery life is much less.

It has nothing to do with "I have a 4G S and don't have any trouble making calls with cellular data turned off". First of all, what is a "4G S" phone?

Second of all, "cellular data turned off" has nothing whatsoever to do with making vocal cell calls.

Those of us who have used AT&T iPhones on iOS 4.x and earlier have always had the the ability for the user to select whether to be on the 2G/Edge only or 2G & 3G.

We want that choice back. For many good reasons.