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iPhone 4S - Outgoing call no audio

Picked up a Verizon iPhone 4S - 32GB and on about 1 in 10 calls I get no outbound audio when dialing. Call shows the timer counting as if the call is progressing but absolutely no ring back and cannot hear the party on the other end when they answer.


Anyone else having this issue? I've found a few forums online stating people have had luck hitting the speaker button on and off to get it working again but it hasn't failed in the past 20 minutes for me to test that theory..


Thanks...

Posted on Oct 17, 2011 3:59 PM

Reply
2,667 replies

Oct 30, 2011 6:48 AM in response to TheAmdMAN

I had the same problem with a 2 week old 32gb black 4S - with no pattern, dialed calls would sometimes not have audio through the ear piece - switching to speaker phone briefly and back would activate audio in the ear piece every time I had the problem.


Went to the Apple Store yesterday and they replaced the phone without problem. Brought a print out of part of this thread along with a log of number of failed attempts vs calls that had no audio problem.


So far, the phone hasn't had any issues.

Oct 30, 2011 7:59 AM in response to TheAmdMAN

Having the same problem also with 4s 32gb on Verizon. First noticed it the other day when I wasn't able to hear my music from iTunes or pandora. Then today wasn't able to hear outgoing calls. Switched to speaker and could hear. But switching back still couldn't hear anything. Still can't hear music. Even plugging in speakers in the stereo jack doesn't work. Turned off Siri, Bluetooth, and restored....no fix

Oct 30, 2011 9:15 AM in response to Gravy679

Called Apple Support and got it working again with a restore. They had me press the vol buttons while my phone was on handset mode. The display still said headphone...so it was stuck in headphone mode. They then told me to plugin my headphones 10 times to see if it would switch back. That didn't work and neither did a reboot. Restoring worked for my case. Software issue for me.

Oct 30, 2011 11:02 AM in response to livinthedreamonmi

Did you put your phone in DFU mode before the restore? After restoring from DFU mode, use "set up as new iPhone." I have to 4Ss. One had all the problems described here and one didn't. I did several ordinary restores that did not solve the problem. Finally, I put the iPhone in DFU mode, then did a restore as a new iPhone. Problem solved. It's been several days and heavy use with no repeat of the issues I had before.

Oct 30, 2011 3:05 PM in response to TheAmdMAN

Was at the "genius" bar in the Apple store downtown Vancouver to replace the iPhone 4S again due to mic issue. Was told that it's a software issue and that they're not replacing because presumably this can be fixed with software, in the meantime it was suggested I should click the speaker on and off to solve the problem. No word on if and when Apple will release a fix. Apple has not said anything about this publicly and none of the media/blogs have mentioned this problem which seems to affect many users and perhaps all the iPhone 4Ss out there (they're too busy writing about funny interactions with Siri.) I'm very disappointed with Apple and regret buying the iPhone 4S, now I'm kinda stuck with it, I sold my iPhone 4 otherwise this iPhone 4S would have been back in the store.

Oct 30, 2011 3:26 PM in response to michaelb1234

That's quite interesting that we're getting different responses from the Apple Stores. I like others was not even asked to demonstrate the issue before replacing the phone, however you've been told to wait for a software update.


I guess all we can do is wait and see if anyone has had the issue with replaced units (which I'm not sure I've seen any yet).


Thanks..

Oct 30, 2011 3:39 PM in response to TheAmdMAN

I posted earlier in this forum but it has grown so big it looks like it's time for an update. We have the same intermittent (not 100% reproducible) issue as everyone else with outgoing calls. It is fixed 100% of the time by toggling the speaker phone on and off. The issue was first noticed the day after we got our phones. My phone works great and my girlfriend's phone is the one with the issue. We live together and make calls from the same location so that is not the problem.


After doing all of the resets Apple requested and getting a new SIM card for the first phone they replaced the first phone with a brand new one last Friday, Oct 21. It was a new phone because the 4S is so new that defective ones have not made it through the process of being refurbished yet. The first call on the new phone after walking out the the store had the same issue as the original phone. I was actually there almost 20 minutes after closing time because they could not figure out how to replace my phone that was bought online at the Applestore.com with a phone from a retail Apple store.


Currently, I am waiting for a call back from one of the advisors at Apple support. She is referring this forum posting to the engineers at Apple and asking for more information. She said it usually takes them between 1-4 days to respond to questions so I should know more information by Wednesday morning hopefully. I will let you know what I find out and if they have any insight to whether or not this is a hardware or software issue. Also, I would like to try the restore in DFU mode. The previous restores have been as a new phone, not from backup and did not fix the problem.


Thanks.

Oct 30, 2011 4:54 PM in response to Hairy Goat

Hairy G - I tried a DFU restore to the iOS5 ipsw. Objectively, it improved the problem.. down to maybe 1/10 calls currently with no outgoing audio.. but probably just coincidence. Given that I didnt notice the issue until day 3 of use, I half expected it to get worse as time went on...


Took the 4S to genius bar today and it was replaced (pending delivery of a new unit) without any problems. The way the tech went through the symptoms suggested it was a known issue.



Surely if this was just a software problem it would be FAR more widespread?... thoughts?

Oct 30, 2011 5:14 PM in response to JP_66295

I agree that if it was a software problem that it should affect all iPhones with iOS5 running, or at least all iPhone 4Ses. However, it seems a little fishy that this hardware issue is so widespread. I also was just hoping from more answers directly from Apple before I try a 3rd phone. I think my next new phone (if I have to get one) will be through the mail with an $800 charge to a credit card with the promise of a refund after returning the defective handset. The closest Apple store is too far away for me to make another trip just for fun.


This officially marks the last time I buy an iPhone at launch. I was hesitant because of the antenna issues last year with the iPhone 4. Hopefully, with the growing size of this thread, we will get some more attention and answers from Apple.

iPhone 4S - Outgoing call no audio

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