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

No sooner do I post the message above, I get a SIM Failure on a CDMA Phone here in the US.   So, even of you are Verizon CDMA data and voice user, the SIM failure still disables your phone service.

Can't you just remove the SIM?

I thought that Verizon CDMA service didn't use the SIM for access to the network.

(And then spare a thought for those of us using GSM who definitely can't remove our SIMs)

After reading a few more posts in  this lengthy thread, I popped out my SIM tray and took a look.  It looks as if the SIM touches the tray across one side of the connectors.  A poor cut for the MICROSIM possibly.  As an interim hack to fix the issue, I applied a piece of clear tape across part of one side of the SIM where the conductors were touching the tray. 

After placing the SIM back in the tray, the conducting segments nolonger makes contact with the tray.  I also noticed the SIM has a little play in the tray and can slide a small amount left to right.  The small amount of tape shifted the SIM in the tray a hair to the left to allow for less contact and covers the area where it was shorting.

(RED box indicates where tapewas applied to the MICROSIM)

So, despite being a CDMA phone, the SIM still appears to have the same impact on carrier access to the network.  I would pop it our for good, but I need this for international roaming in Europe for work.

More news from Argentina. We have two iPhone 4S (5.0.1) working on Movistar and Claro networks. Both came from Canada, unlocked.

After all tests I can say this IS a software problem.

Movistar's iPhone is working fine with a 128Kb SIM that I cut down to a MicroSIM size. I couldn't set or edit "My Number" setting on Settings - Phone. I switched the SIM to my older iPhone 4 (5.0.1) changed it there and put it back. Now not only I can see the number but I can also edit it!

Claro's iPhone 4S is working with an original 64Kb MicroSIM (not cut down). Same problem with "My Number" setting. We are going to try to set the number on the same iPhone 4 from Movistar and let you know.

Both can't activate Facetime nor iMessage.

Regards

Finally I found the ultimate solution

follow this discussion and give me your feedback if it works or not

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3525977?tstart=0

Same issues here.... This is super frustrating. I have a factory unlocked 4s... "SIM failure" and sometimes after several reboots "full bars" without being able to send or receive (calls and SMS). I am on a t-mobile SIM card that works perfectly on my iPhone 4 and does not o me much good on the 4s.

Why does Apple not manage to aknowledge the problem like other companies do? It is "best practice" to admit the problems and bugs and help your customers with possible workarounds and an estimate time-frame to resolve the problem.

I am sick and tired of making Genius bar appointments and having phones replaced that show the same issues after replacement.

Apple get your act together acknowledge the problems and solve these issues quickly and professionaly. A phone that does not allow you to make calls is simply laughable.

I had my 'SIM FAILURE' iPhone 4S replaced by Apple (sent away and came back within 48hrs, very impressed). This was last Wednesday that I had it back and, touch wood, it's not shown the fault since. I'm sure I've jinxed it now and I'll see the error but for now the problem has gone and I hope it stays away.

Anyone that has this problem and lives too far from an Apple store to swap it, get them to send you a package to return it, they quoted 10 working days for return but it I sent it off on a Monday afternoon and got it back Wednesday morning, crazy fast service right there.

However there is clearly a problem which needs addressing here and I hope Apple help others to solve it like they have for me.

I'm having connectivity problems, 3G signal dropping. It seems random. I have an iPhone4S with iOS5.0.1 factory unlocked. SIM card form carrier Vodafone Spain is 128K and new. I am waiting for an iOS update to see if it solves the problem, if not i'll try ordering a new SIM card form my carrier. If it's not solved I will have to go to my local Apple Store in Barcelona and tell them for a replacement.

Hope it's software related and solved the next update.

@RaMarcus

Can you go into the 'About' page inside 'Settings/General' and tell us the version of the Modem Firmware, and also the Carrier version?

And the main Version number also?

I have noticed that one other person had mismatched numbers when they got a replacement phone ... and I'm curious whether Apple have downgraded the Modem firmware they're installing ...

Model: MD258Y

Operator: vf es 11.1 (Vodafone Spain)

Modem firmware: 1.0.13

I've read in other post that model starting with MD2 needs a replacement cause it has some kind of hardware issues, is it true? Do i have to order a replacement?

Talked to Tele 2 Sweden support again.

The new person I talked to did not know of any ongoing software fix (unlike the first one who mentioned this possibility). Their current recommendations are:

1) restore your phone from iTunes

2) if that doesn't work, send the phone to their logistic center to be fixed or for an exchange (they have a dedicated option for that in the IVR so I trust it's a common issue). They did not mention what the "fix" would be. Could it be as silly as changing the SIM tray? Will see when I get the phone back.

So for Tele 2 Sweden's customers, there is no "other type of SIM card" option, no software update in sight, no work-around.

Looking at post https://discussions.apple.com/message/16852100#16852100, I have the exact same situation: SIM card is touching the tray exactly in this way. Tried taping it but to no avail. Tried also the no PIN trick but it did not help.

Problem Resolved!

I had the same issue with my new 4S which I had updated to iOS 5.0.1, whereas my wife's 4S on 5.0 was working fine. I myself cut both our SIMs down from a regular size. After scouring these discussion threads, I thought my only hope would be a bug fix from Apple. However, I thought I'd give a new SIM card a try. So I got a new uSIM card (a real uSIM, not cut down). For what it's worth, it was a 64K card, though some have said a 128K card is the solution. I put it in the iPhone's SIM tray and, taking a cue from some other posts (cgrossmeier's above), looked at the fit and noticed that the contacts on the left side (where there is very little gap between the contacts and the edge) did seem to be touching the tray, giving credence to the idea that the card is getting electrically shorted out. So I didn't put the card in right away, but rather first took it home and attached a bit of clear tape over the contacts, covering up about 1/8th inch of the card in total. Then I put the SIM in.

Working perfectly!

So I don't know whether the new SIM fixed it or whether the tape on the new SIM fixed it. For many, it does seem like the 5.0.1 update has triggered the issue. But anyway, tape thing worth a try.

I had the same issue (no service, invalid sim, searching...)

I did install iOS 5.1 (developers only) and everything looks fine now.

BRAZIL - TIM

iPhone 4S 64GB

iOS 5.1 (9B5117b)

Model: MD257C

Serial: C3.......

IMEI: 01 300....

Firmware Modem: 1.2.01-1

SIM 128k TIM carrier (cutted sim  and micro-sim working)

SIM 64k VIVO carrier (cutted sim working too)

Tks Apple

PS: Sry my english

After reading all the threads on this, I'm pretty sure the tape thing is a red herring.

The difference between a SIM and a USIM seems to be the key to all of this. SIMs and USIMs have different security models and it seems entirely likely (at this stage, and without any confirmation), that Apple has decided to only support the more secure USIM. It is worth noting that genuine Micro-SIMs are *always* USIMs, so that only cut-down full size SIMs should be having this problem (Cut-down USIMs should work!). If you are having this problem with a genuine Micro-SIM from your carrier, you and they should both be speaking with Apple.

Unfortunately, supporting USIMs also seems to require action from the carriers. There are some carriers that cannot support the full USIM (ie UMTS) authentication model, and rely on a fallback to the SIM (ie GSM) model. It seems likely that these carriers will never be able to support the iPhone 4S (although they had no trouble with 3GS and 4).

The reason why the 128K 'SIM' has solved the problem for many people is that 128K SIMs are usually USIMs internally. This is due to the timing of the introduction of USIMs and the sizes available. It is possible, but extremely unlikely for SIMs to be available in 128K versions.

As for the tape and the tray ... the SIM tray is insulated in the crucial location. Have a close look at the colour of the metal on the outside, and compare with the colour of the rests for the Micro-SIM. The tray has been coated with some grey paint. I have tested it with multimeter probes, and I can confirm that is insulated.

Thank you for the insights.

If what you say is true, then I think it would be sensible for Apple to maintain a list of carriers that can support their unlocked phones, or at least put the language that describes the requirments into their sales materials.

I had an unlocked 4s that experienced the "sim failure" problem on t-mobile USA and my only option was to return the phone to Apple for a refund.