Sim Card Failure No Sim with iPhone 4S Anyone Else?

It is now 24 hours since the local AT&T Store replaced my SIM card. So far it is perfect. Original card would go bad in 1-2 hours (did it twice). Whether it is the new card or just the act of carefully installing I don't know -- but it is definitely better. If this one gives a problem I will go to the Apple Store.

I am with Sprint and noticed "NO SERVICE" on my new 32GB iPhone 4S yesterday. When I tried turning on airplane mode then turning it off, I got a "SIM Failure" message.

Called AppleCare and spoke with a tech who told me he hadn't heard about this problem from anyone (surprising considering all these posts). He had me do a restart of the phone, which restored Sprint service.

Looks like reading through all these posts that I may experience SIM Failure again.

Tried the tape suggestion without result. 😟

I had the same issue on with my Sprint iPhone - pull the sim card out. Sprint is CDMA and you'll only use the sim if you travel internationally (and have the sim card activated). This fixed my problem and the solution came from an Apple iPhone support tech.

Hi Jainash,

We went to Apple yesterday who were awesome and happily gave us a replacement handset.

It is so fantastic to have this level of support for a product, really gives buying confidence.

Anyway, as I told the Apple Genius that morning, I did an "erase all content and data" reset because I had still not managed to get the sim/phone to work all week and once I did that it wanted to reactivate.

It took a couple of inserts before it actually saw the sim and activated but once it did it started working really well, and in fact worked perfectly all day til we took it into Apple (of course).

So when we showed it to the Genius I told him this and he gave us the option, but after a full week of intermittant operation we decided to go with a new handset.

He loaded our sim into the new one and this now works perfectly. It's been about 18 hours, and has been charged over night and still no sign of the dreaded "Invalid Sim" message.

So for optus post paid sims, I recommend getting a new handset mostly, but you could try a "erase all data/content" reset and do another activation as this seemed to make our old one work.

I'll keep checking back here for updates on the issue. Cheers.

Some German T-Mobile customers are experiencing the same problems described in this thread. The cause of their problems is an old Infineon chip on the SIM. T-Mobile started swapping the SIM's. T-Mobile Germany FAQ

Since I'm having the exact same problems on Vodafone I need to figure out if they use the same old Infineon chip.

@dntvnr: Where did you Receive the Information that an Old Infineon Chip is the Reason for These Problems? Do you know which Infineon Chip exactly is used at the SIM cards which don't work?

A telecom insider told this to the biggest iPhone webpage in the Netherlands. The affected German SIM's are K7xxxxxTO. This is no indication for my Vodafone SIM unfortunately.

The sim card is not the problem, nor is it the seating of the card in the tray. In fact I do not believe it is hardware related at all. I suspect that it might be a software issue; possibly in the version of iOS 5 that is pre-installed. One poster re-installed it and that fixed the problem for them. I have tried several sim cards (some old and some brand new) that all fail. All of them work in the old 4. As I had already sent the handset back before I read the post, it was too late to try it. They are sending me a new handset and will try that the re-install if I still get sim failure.

ℹ Background: Using a States model - ATT. 4Gs I have luxury of having old micro SIM card. But have same issue as is happening to a lot more folks than previous generation phones in my experience.. Was working for a couple of hours after initializing through Apple. My AT&T account looks good.

Problem: But now the phone, SIM card failure, then restarting, NO SIM CARD, no phone number etc.

Resolving: Instead of trying the reseat approach, based on the latest discussion,like yours, I will stick in my old iPhone 4 SIM Card. Even though this might cause some account/billing issues, such as No service... it should help isolate the problem, as this seems to be a hardware or firmware issue based on IOS 5 as far as I can tell. I will update this, for better or for worse.

If another Apple device savy tech can share a good link with me and save many like-minded enthusiasts; such as "don't waste your time and head to AT&T store, or better yet a fix --appreciated..." 😀

What I can confirm is that the Problem is Not Network related: I have a SIM Card from the German Provider O2, I am currently in a Business Trip in the US, using the AT&T Network is Creating the Some Problems.

On the Other Hand my iPad 1 3G which I upgrated on the same ios5 Release (5.0. 9A334) Works Fine! The difference between both devices is the baseband Chip, the iPhone 4s uses the Qualcomm mdm6610 and the ipad1 the Infineon Gold. Therefore my conclusion is that the Problem is a low Level driver of the mdm6610. What I read is that the iPhone 4 with ios5 also Works Fine, this device is also using a different baseband Chip: The GSM Version also the Infineon Gold and the CDMA Version a different Chip by Qualcomm. The iPhone 4s is the only device which uses the mm6610, which is a combined CDMA and GSM baseband processor.

If I am right Apple will have to provide a Firmware Update to fix the Bug. The Worst Case would be a Hardware Bug on the mdm6610 but in this Case an Exchange of the iPhone would Not be successful.

Nevertheless I don't understand why an Exchange of the iPhone 4s should work - does Apple deliver a New Firmware Already? My Modem Firmware is 1.0.11. Can anybody Check If an Exchanged iphone 4s (which Works Fine) has another version number?

frank140 wrote:

"Therefore my conclusion is that the Problem is a low Level driver of the mdm6610. ...The iPhone 4s is the only device which uses the mm6610, which is a combined CDMA and GSM baseband processor.

If I am right Apple will have to provide a Firmware Update to fix the Bug. The Worst Case would be a Hardware Bug on the mdm6610 but in this Case an Exchange of the iPhone would Not be successful.

Nevertheless I don't understand why an Exchange of the iPhone 4s should work - does Apple deliver a New Firmware Already? My Modem Firmware is 1.0.11. Can anybody Check If an Exchanged iphone 4s (which Works Fine) has another version number?

Agreed regarding network issue, as I much as I heart ATT 😝

The low level driver or firmware(hopefully) sounds like the cause; as you alluded to, my iPad 2, no problems. I have setup perhaps 200 of these things since the 3rd generation, and this is the first time I have bitten by this bug.

In the States, I have the same modem firmware. Of course, over wifi and NOW! ➕ everything is copasetic .

Before listing the solution that has worked for me for a short while anyway, here are my unique variables: Exchange wise, we are on Exchange 2010. But yes, same modem firmware, same IOS Everything is working as it should in every aspect. I also use Lion, I also procurred the iPhone through Apple, who then pushed me to AT&T's site.

I had suspended my account, while waiting, went online and reactivated today upon receiving it. I noticed that the AT&T site said I still had the iPhone 4, and I was no longer eligible to get discount phone for approx 2 years. Plugged in my iPhone to iTunes as per norm, at which time it activated it fine, all worked good. Confirmed my ATT account reflected the new device as well... A few hours later I posted here, after some texts and a nap.

Hard reset didn't help. Putting in the older sim card(which was not deactivated) gave the predictable No Service availible message. Most importantly, not the SIM card error noted. I still went ahead and loaded my backup onto it. Still in iTunes, as within the phone, it didn't have provisioing/account tied to the older SIM card.

Took extra care in placing the original SIM back in based on people's past experiences. Did a hard reset --all good. Went into iTunes, did a local backup, instead of the iCloud backup. Assuming that this works, my conclusion is that it's same issue that has affected other folks with getting a snugfit with their micro SIM card, or else, there is a security/IOS issue that is running and failing at same point. Likewise, the mm6610 dual baseband conclusion you mentioned, is highly likely.

Though I can't speak for your Exchange variables, I am hopeful that you will be fine there, as I was setting up some of these new phones, and mgrating them in my IT enviroment last week, where we still have some users using ActiveSync through exchange 2007 EWS

ℹBased on both of those conclusions, I went ahead and toned down my phone, that is to say. I disabled much of the iCloud backups, and large data transfers. I noticed iTunes defaults to iCloud device backups, so ---million of people soon will be backing up many gigs. I disabled bluetooth. I didn't disable WiFI, which could also be confusing the chip. I went through and tried to limit apps, updates and what not, based on the intermittent nature of people's complaints, in hopes of not confusing the IOS regarding some security feature they need to patch, and likewise. Also I disabled almost every option inmy apps that gave an option to sync data not using WiFi. I did not turn off Location Services. In particular I turned off icloud's synching of email, to cause less traffic on AT&T's network, however I still left my three email accounts on PUSH, all of this in hopes of not confusing whatever firmware may be in; apparently ALL new iPhones, and triggering a lower level security check that may cause this issue as well.

So if driver issue or IOS, whatever the case, IOS, iCloud all that stuff is very very data intensive, and I'm sure hardwre and network engineers on both sides have added new variables to keep people like me, with grandfathered unlimited data plans, and the trend of everyone doing the tethering scenario, in conjunction with providers getting ready to let people buy unlocked phones soon. One bothersome feature they took away was the ability to turn off 3G, as this would have been a good test. Again, that points to the mm6610...

➖ The best guess by this hippo is that something triggers a shutdown of this SIM card, on the device end. Whether it's a poor driver or a security check that is getting triggered I don't know. Until then I won't feel satisfiend until there is an update that explicitly addresses this issue. I have never seen this many people complain of this error, so early, and Apple doesn't have it's techs play dumb on the phone without reason...

Good luck to rest of you.

Meanwhile I read in several Forums that People have Exchanged their iPhone 4s in a Apple store and the New phone is working with the Same SIM Card they used in the Trouble phone!

If the Hardware is still the Same Apple MUST have Changed Some Software in the New Phones otherwise there is no Reason that they work Fine.

If they did so the Following questions have to be answered:

1) Which Part of Software was Exchanged (Updated) by Apple in the New Phones?

2) Why isn't there an Official Update available?

Assumed that there is no change in the Software there is only One - nearly unbelievable - Explanation available: Apple and Qualcomm discovered a Bug in the mdm6610 but didn't want to postpone the delivery of the iPhone 4s again (and of course Save Money). So they Decided to deliver the Phones with the buggy Chip anyway. Meanwhile Qualcomm fixed the Bug and Starting with Day xyz Bug-Free Chips have been manufactured. Let's assume that 4 Mio. Buggy mdm6610 have been manufactured, in this Case 4 Mio. Iphones 4s may fail. Starting with the delivery of iPhone 4s 4 Mio.+1 (which now includes a Bug-Free mdm6610) there will no more Problems occur which could explain that Exchanged iphones 4s work Fine.

In this (Unlikely?) Case everybody who ownes a phone with a buggy Chip would have to Exchange it - or Apple and Qualcomm find a fix how to make the phone working Despite the buggy Chip.

1) So not a hardware issue.

2) There is not an effective update yet, so Apple Stores are just practicing damage control based on below opinion & experience. So hardware companies are just spinning issue until update is released...

Honestly, dealing with Apple in the past, especially with beta testing 10.7

I think it has to do with the registration process. Most likely due to AT&T likely oversight of automatically signing up everyone for what is basically MobileMe on steroids. In fact my phone quit shortly after 10 gigs of content made it's way to the iCloud... All on WiFi.

ℹKnowing them, they are biting the bullet for a reason, besides the fact they can afford to. I don't think it's buggy chip. Mine works fine. I think it's insane demand that apple enthusiasts cause. When mine stopped working it was on WiFI, it never once had a need to communicate with the SIM card that would have presented a problem within hour of activation. Also normally one needs to unlock or suspend service to unlock, this feature is no longer available. And again, I was on wifi the entire time. This tells me it is related to iCloud bit at very least.

My educated guess after reading many articles like this one or even the discussion we are having. 😉 It's likely the Apple Store reps are just cleaning the slate completely, and making sure the phone registers with the respective provider correctly through avenues not available to the general public. Something unique to chipset is causing provisioning issues. They know HOW to do it. They are likely trying to avoid the poor antenna media hype that was made. The Apple store reps may or may not the why what they are doing resolves.

After helping the previous purchaser of my iPhone 4 unlock his earlier this evening. ➕ Do a Google Search on Gavey-Sim and see why it has caused seasoned techies who hate AT&T etc, are having fits unlocking not just the IO5 or 4Gs phones, it's really the same issue. This told me that it's not about the new the new phone. It's the changes that Apple made in preparation for this, or lack there of. Apple could really care less what provider you choose. This reminds me of classic communication conundrums when IT gets outsourced. The likely result of not ironing out the provision process with the new security changes. I think I recall AT&T, perhaps other carriers are expected to start selling them unlocked in a month or so, or even do it for you if that helps

The unlockers and jailbreakers are used to this conundrum, so ironically, that community has the quickest fix and news on how to do it. As they have, or had the same issue.

Solution: Doing it "legally"

The below process should work for most folks that usually just plague unlock beginners until Apple release the update and aren't going to wait in line at an Apple Store et cetera,

1. First start from scratch, explicitly following Apple's recommended 4 step method of regardless of your carrier in KBarticle HT1438
2. Make sure your account is no longer suspended if case. Then go through iTunes, and start over.
3. Caveats that may apply in your case, or playing it ultra-safe. Turn off everything cloud related on the phone, that means wifi, bluetooth, 3G if it apples, cell roaming, location features, and cloud features. I only turned off some, as half of these are likely superfluous.

Worked for me as a AT&T customer and helped some use Gavey for TMobile, and what I'll be telling my colleagues at the University if there is no release come Monday.

I don't see a need to replace one's sim-card assuming you have a new one. Your time... But for opportunists out there, now is not a bad time to ask for compensation for the time you spent researching, waiting in line, whatever. Apple does one thing right, and that is put the customer first. It's what created the iPhone to begin with.

p.s. you are going to want to disable a lot of these features anyway, if you want your phone to stay charged all day with decent brightness ---my biggest gripe. grrr I want the ability to turn off 3G energy sucking chips for this very reason when I won't be charging for extended lengths.

Good Luck!

FWIW - I got the Apple store to reflash my phone to stock, and 24 hours later seems to all still be working.

I resorted the issue to be a corrupt iPhone 4 backup - something just went wrong there.