Q: iPhone 4S "no service" problem

the latest version hasnt done anything good .

Hi, I'm having the same problem. Can I ask you what number did you call?
Thanks

yep, same boat. This is crazy!

Am a Vodafone UK customer on a iPhone 4S. Vodafone supplied me with a sure signal box, essentially a mini antenna for my house. The 4S STILL drops its signal even when in the same room as the signal box.

Totally and utterly unacceptable as I am a self employed Plasterer so if clients can't reach me, it's affecting my livelihood.

APPLE SORT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there must be some hardware issue that apple doesn't talk about, because they changed my phone, when i asked orange romania about this problem. With this new one, in 2 days, no signal loss, no errors, no "no service" and i'm on 5.0.1 and 9A405. so software update may be in some cases the sollution, but most of them might be having hardware issues.

do not wait for an update..that might not solve your problem, as this 9A406 did not solve it for most of you...

I disagree.

It seems a lot of people I know have this issue regarding the No Service bug when coming out of a non servicable area into an area with reception.  

If Apple does not come out with a fix in the very NEAR future, I would recommend we all swap our phones.... if Apple gets back a lot of phones, this will cost them dearly, it will make them move a lot faster in getting a software fix (if it is truly software).  If it is hardware, Apple should pony up and do a major recall for affected devices!!!  I have submitted this forum to the blogs/media and hopefullly it will gain some attention!

I paid for an iPhone (get it...a phone!) not an iPod Touch S!

I have the exact same problem ...

UPDATE:

I posted here several weeks ago and thought I would now give you an update of my situation.

I'm in the UK on the O2 network, picked up a brand new iPhone 4s running 5.01 and I too was getting the NO SERVICE message. The only way to bring it back was to turn the iPhone ON/OFF. I had tried two brand new micro sims from O2, and also tried a clean restore as advised by Apple, but still the problem persisted - NO SERVICE.

I then made an appointment at the Apple Store where I took the phone in and it was replaced for a different iPhone 4s, I then went straight into the O2 store and got them to replace the sim again (3rd one). I can now report that after running the new iPhone for 2 weeks I no longer have the NO SERVICE problem, and I am on the older 5.01 update, not the new one.

So its difficult to put my finger on was it the iphone or the sim, but at least for me the problem appears to be resolved.

My last post I stated that after restoring to build 9A406 the ip4s seems to work fine. But after about 24hrs the no service problem came back. I changed to a 3rd micro sim with a different design. Problem came back after 6 hrs. There doesn't seem to be any patterns on what's triggering the phone to drop signal. Frustrated and out of ideas, I went back to Digi (Malaysia) and they changed phone on the spot. I have not updated to iOS 5.0.1. Phone seems to be working ok. It has been abt 30 hrs with no loss of signal. The issue seems to be hardware related. I would advise changing the unit if possible. I have had too many missed calls to tinker with software updates. Apple ... Please do everyone a favor and issue a recall for the affected units.

Me too..i changed sim 2 times and restore so many times but still same n then i went to DiGi and they replaced me new phone..now no problem at all :) i think the problem came from hardware..

hey dude u r having the same problem as this?? i am also from pakistan! which carrier u r using??

Ok everyone, listen up...

This problem is not hardware... it is software!

This problem came after iOS 5 on iPhone 4 (that was running iOS 4.x previously, iPhone 3GS and now the iPhone 4S!

The build number 9A406 has somewhat fixed the signal drop and Searching / No Service in a cell coverage area. For those of you who think that replacing the phone has solved the issue, you are out to lunch!  I suggest you guys to go underground like in a subway or parking garage or what not for 15 mins where there really is No Service and come out into a servicable area and you will see that the phone is still having issues catching a signal! Before build 9A406, I would have to turn AIRPLANE mode off/on to trigger the iPhone to search for a signal always (iOS 5.0.1 Build 9A405).  This didn't happen much with iOS 5.0!. Now I do as well, but a lot less with build 9A406.  I have had 3 iPhones and all exhibit the same issue.  All my friends have this problem as I have discussed this issue on Facebook and Twitter.   This is widespread and your problems with replacing hardware will be short lived and they will come back and when they do, you will be upset again!

I seriously think it is software related as this issue is now affecting older iPhones that did not exhibit the issue until iOS 5.x!  Apple come out with a proper fix in a more timely manner.  It is very sad on how long it is taking you to come up with fixes for iOS 5.x.  If this is the new Apple without Jobs, you will destroy Apple within in a few years and everything that Steve did for Apple will go down the pipelines!  People are not happy with Apple nor Tim Cook because it seems that Apple is losing control of how to make things just WORK!

There are a lot of frustrated people out there still with no service issues, no one knows what the problem is. It could be hardware or software. I for one had an iPhone 4s on the first version of 5.01 and would get no service after going through several sims. It was not until my iPhone was changed that it now works perfectly after two weeks of testing. I am still on the original version of 5.01 and now when I go underground for 30 mins on the tube when I come back up my iPhone picks up the network straight away? So was it coincidence that my problems were only resolved when my hardware was changed, I don't know, but don't assume you know what the problem is mritcatra!

Mr Bluefusion,

I have had 3 iPhone 4S'es all have the same issue since iOS 5.0.1

None before this release!

I also didn't assume...  I wrote "I seriously think it is software related" 

I have heard people on these forums say it's this and that only to come back and say the problem is back - short lived.  That is why I said it has to be software and not hardware!

I don't want people to give a false hope to Apple to stop coming out with a fix and delay a fix because people that have no issues for a short period of time (like 1 week etc) to ruin it for everyone else!

I ride the subway daily and I notice all the iPhones hunt excessively long for a signal when you come into a servicable area.   The people above are talking about the iPhone working in a servicable area (which I don't have this problem anymore with iOS 5.0.1 build 9A406!  I did prior, so if it was hardware, then the iPhone I currently have would be exhibiting the same problems and it is NOT - SOFTWARE RELATED!

My only problem now is coming out of the underground say like a parking garage or subway (tub) and the iPhone hunts for service for 2 to 3 mins afterwards.   It never use to be this way.  Nor any other phone that is on the subway with me, as I have asked around.  Clearly it is a SOFTWARE BUG causing the issues.  It is also INTERMITTENT!  It doesn't happen always... So the people who say the battery drain is fixed, the wi-fi issues are resolved or signal issues are gone are making it worse for others who have the probelm because they are talking short term!

I have replaced 3 iPhones, 2 SIM cards and same problems.... unless Apple has about 20 million iPhone 4Ses that are faulty (hardware) they should come out of the closet and make it official!

You stated "people who thought iw was hardware were out to lunch!"

I've had two iPhones and 3 sims. Short lived maybe, but I have had my iPhone now for two weeks with no issues and it's on iOS 5.0.1 build 9A405!