Q: iPhone 4S - Outgoing call no audio

must be what lfgrd is saying then, that its a hardware issue; though so many people are convinced its software. in any case ill make the call to apple for mine hopefully tonight. shame it had to come to that.

I think it was a problem in manufacturing.   Here is why.

Few pages back an engineer spoke of how software can be altered to alleviate a hardware issue.  So you would still have the underlying hardware issue.  This would explain why only some phones are effected and why it is taking Apple so long.  However it does not excuse the fact that Apple should of spoke out sooner.

What I think everyone here needs to understand is if it was indeed a manufacturing defect then some of the replacement phones out there would also be effected.  I can come to this conclusion because the 4s is so new.  I had the issue from the moment i opened the box on my original phone.  This was running firmware 5.0.  It has nothing to do wtih firmware version although it could potentially trigger it in a device that has bad hardware.  This might be why 4.1 is fixing it for some people but not others.  Depending on the tolerance of the trigger.

I had to make a scene the first time I went to the store about how it wasn't software.  I won.. However I decided to be cooperative to make a point.  I told the guy I will see you tomorrow... Well I did see him the next day and he was much better with me and much more respectful.  I think it does matter who you get.  However you guys are all paying customers and should not take no for an answer.  However at the same time be polite.  I told this great support center specialist on the phone "I don't mean to come accross as I am yelling but i just want you to know I am frustrated and I know it is not your fault.  I need you to hear me out."  Then I proceeded to tell her my frustrations.  At that point they were willing to go out of there way for me.  If I had another bad store experience then they told me to call back and they would take care of me.  I was entitled as many replacements as it took.

It is a shame Apple is not admitting it but that asside this is by far the best phone I ever had.  4G is highly overrated as it is throttled on most networks and I would prefer the battery life I am getting with my 4S over that feature at this time.  Also the networks are not mature enough yet.  In fact just yesterday Verizon was having all kinds of 4G outages.  I had nothing but problems on Android that were all software related and stupid.

I am mad at Apple but I think at the end of the day it sounds like they are fianlly starting to listen (at least more of hte reps).  Keep calling until you et someone that hears you out.

I hope this helps.  I am no expert on this problem but this is just my take on it from reading the entire thread and listening to everones situation.

This does not dismiss any of my dissappointment over the fact htat Apple can't even acknowledge... "We don't know what it is but we are actively working on this and will hopefully have answers soon"

The customer is always right and remind them of that.. This forum is going on 90 pages probably soon of poor individuals that have this problem.  Saddly it is to the point where there are so many posts it is diffcult to diagnose right off the bat if this is software or hardware.  However I think the consensus is becoming clear.  Some of you have been unlucky with your replacements and i htink that is because Apple is having a difficult time figuring out which phones have that issue to get them out of circulation.

FroggMann

Get a replacement don't take no for an answer... This forum does not lie make them hear your entire story before they even speak. 

I may have to do that.  I just hate plugging into iTunes and doing a backup but that's another issue.  I don't want to get started on my problems with iTunes.  How can Apple make such cool toys but be so horrible about communicating with the very customers that keep buying them?  Sheesh!

I've been having the same problem in New Zealand over the last couple of weeks with my 4s. I thought it was a carrier problem but after seeing this discussion it is a hardware problem.

Apple have advised to check with the carrier first but it looks like it is a hardware issue. I have asked for a new screen saver which I purchased from their Apple store when they replace the phone.

Here here. Can't hear. Switch to speaker, then back to phone. When I can! Sometimes it won't even let me do that. Strange echo too. Veryyyyy frustrating! AT&T said no issues on their end. Did restore blah blah blah. no help.

Hey everyone,

Well yesterday, I was very frustrated as I had been passed on to AT&T and had a new SIM card put in and that didn't fix the problem. They also did some other things that did not help. Talked to a supervisor again who told me to make an appointment at a store. He also told me that if they didn't find a problem, they would not give me another replacement. The genius I talked to said he had heard it and seen it. He took my phone in back and then came back with a replacement. I noticed this one already had 5.0.1 installed. So I assume it was new. He had me make 5 calls before I left. All went through just fine. I heard the phones ring. I was so nice. There was no strange echo that made me feel like I was talking into a can. I am happy. I was frustrated and unhappy to think I would have to get a third phone, but I am happy this one seems to work. My serial # starts with C39. Good luck to the rest of you.

I just had the same iusse over the lsat couple of days. Not being able to switch back from speaker to phone. I solved this by tuning the phone off and on each time.

Only an hour ago I had a strange echo and could not understand the person on the other end.

Same problem.  I have iPhone 4S - 16GB bought 11/23/11 and most calls (1 in 2 or 3) get no outbound audio when dialing.  The 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.  (My wife told me that she could hear me, but I could not hear her.)

Went to the Apple Store today and the Genius did a Reset All Settings.  Worked for the one test call that I made in the store and then the problem was right back.  Heading back to the Apple Store tomorrow to try and get a new phone.

The turn the speaker on and off workaround seems to be working for me, but I haven't made enough calls to really try the workaround out.

I think this is a hardware issue. (from another thread)...

"Maybe I've a solution here. I suggest that you press in the right corner of your iphone screen(near home button). I tried that and suddenly I can hear the sound again. My friend also did this, and its worked. "

This would suggest that in assembly there is some error in "press fit" of the components. On that thread many are reporting the same problem and the same temporary fix. This also makes sense with those that have done resets and restores as the insertion of the dock cable appears to also "move" the loose component and produce a temporary fix. Likewise the comments about software adapting to a HW fault would lead to variable outcomes and different symptoms. Also the switch to speaker "solution" would indicate this as the increase in power delivered to the speaker might overcome the resistance of a loose connection.

My brand new 64gig 4s has exhibited the same problems as reported here and I have done all the usual remedies others have tried. Clearly a QA issue for Apple with phones passing tests but the fault being marginal and showing up after some minor physical manipulation (shipping, pluging in cables, carried in pockets etc.)

Apples response would seem to be in line with this as they are now replacing phones. Difficulty for them is finding the faulty assembly line, fixing it, working out which device serial numbers were affected, recalling those from stock so as not to hand out more faulty units, inform the distribution chain and still try to keep up with incredible demand. Logistics ****. Clearly a 21C problem for manufacturers, remember Toyota? They were known for their build quality too. The Dr.

Dr?Strangelove wrote:

 

I think this is a hardware issue. (from another thread)...

 

"Maybe I've a solution here. I suggest that you press in the right corner of your iphone screen(near home button). I tried that and suddenly I can hear the sound again. My friend also did this, and its worked. "

 

 

 

This would suggest that in assembly there is some error in "press fit" of the components. On that thread many are reporting the same problem and the same temporary fix. This also makes sense with those that have done resets and restores as the insertion of the dock cable appears to also "move" the loose component and produce a temporary fix.

You may also try to cross yourself, it also works sometime.

It is not a loose component. It is a software malfunction. Hardware defects and software bugs has their own major signs. Would it be hardware, it would happened in different situations but now we have stable effect in very particular stage.

One man here was completely right I think, this behavior is most likely undefined variables - after exact action (speaker) those variables became defined and everything works. And when incoming call those variables gets their values from another way. And dialer of third parties acts with variables another way and it works.

As per genius stuff words, what do you think they are? The same users as we are. What do you think they would say? The things that's most easy to understand. If I would be Apple I would also exchange units to pacify customers unless I'll developing a bug-free release.

The one thing I can;t understand - why Apple keeping silence? It's not looks like a respecting to customers.

I think you are right.  I got my 4S replaced a week ago, my replacement 4S exhibited similar issue just earlier tonight.  5 consecutive calls with no audio when connected.  Problem persisted after a restart, and somehow I manage to get the audio back again when dialing out and problem seem to be gone for now.  I am thinking of returning my 4S and getting my $700+ back.

Well, I would say it was software as my fix, of turning Siri off at set up, has now been good for 4 days. Apple have contacted me a couple of times due to feedback following a genius appointment and agree that it seems to be software; next software update due in a cole of weeks.  I am considering reenabling Siri to see if the problem returns.

Hello,

I have had that problem since the begining on my iPHone 4S (32Gb, bought in France ), but I can't stand it anymore: on 50% of my calls I don't get any audio.

yesterday I had to make a call 7 times in a row to get it! And this morning I had to call 5 times in a row a company.

this cannot be serious! Plus it upsets people : "are you the person who called 4 times? i could not hear you"

>> i am bringing my phone back tomorrow.

It's a pity since it's a great device.... except to make phone calls!

Just made a test after deactivating SIRI: I called my own appartment fix phone...

>> I had to call 4 times to have the call going through!

So, since this morning, out of 9 calls, only 2 went through!