I have the same problem. Went to the Verizon store where they worked the problem with an Apple rep on the phone for 2 hours. I still don't have service. We're supposed to be getting phone call "progress updates" from Apple but have not yet heard from them - 4 hours after leaving the Verizon store. I know for a fact (from the Verizon manager and the Verizon tech I talked to on another phone) that Apple had issued an alert that there is a "problem" with the iphone 4s though they didn't reveal what the problem is. So, even carriers don't know what Apple is doing. My friend has an identical phone that she bought just before Christmas and it works fine. So maybe this all has to dowith the Christmas Crunch and Apple can't keep up with their end of the deal.

Any thoughts?

I remember the blogs stating that the iPhone 4S/5 was going to be delayed from the summer launch due to hardware issues... this may be it!

Apple knew of the issues with the 3G signal, wi-fi and battery and tried to fix it within the 3 months (June to October) and didn't and still released it to the public hoping no issues or backlash!  I am convinced Apple knew of this problem and just didn't care... if this is true, a recall should be happening and hopefully some American sues Apple for this!

I can't wait to switch to Android and Apple has made that switch even easier!

I imagine they knew about it and took a chance- much like automakers when they come out with new cars. They deal with the recalls after they've sold what they built, regardless of the quality of the product. Not a very wise strategy on their part, especially in this tentative economy. They're probably banking on the fact that "everyone wants an iphone", therefore they will take advantage of their customers, knowing there will be thousands more new customers to come after the initial, dissatisfied customers leave for more reliable products and service.

But it will catch up with them. Sooner than later.

It's already catching up...

iPhone 4S launched in October, 2 months later the iPhone only grew 1.4%

Android is still growing at over 3%... after a major iPhone launch!

They could sell millions, but the end result that matters is the marketshare and Google is killing it.

Apple is losing ground and this is one reason. People are tired of the iPhone problems... I give it two to three years without Jobs and iPhone will slow down... that is why Apple is suing everyone because they are afraid.

APPLE FIX YOUR OS!  IT'S APPROACHING 3 MONTHS!!!

I went to the verizon Store to return my phone and they at first wouldn't want to help me since I was a dum.. existing customer.

But after while they tried themselves to fix it and couldn't get it to work either.

So they returned it and refunded me the money and told me to call their 1-800 number to reorder the phone.

So I called them and reordered the phone with some arguments

So now I'm back on the waiting list for the new phone.

Wait and see if the new one will do the same thing

UPDATE:

On a whim I restored the Iphone 4s software through my Itunes...and it worked! At first I was getting bars but the phone didn't see my network (Verizon), but after fiddling with the phone (turning the airplane mode on and off, reseting the network, resetting all settings), setting up the wi-fi connection again, attempting to activate the phone again online at Verizon.....the phone suddenly started working! It shows my network and bars! The darn thing is actually working!

The only downside, which really isn't a downside if it means getting your phone working, is that it takes Itunes 2 hours to download the software to your phone, then another several minutes for it to finish the set up process.

I hope this hideous nightmare has come to an end and I hope this helps somebody else!

Good luck everyone!

I have a question from those who have solved their problem by replacing the phone :

Does your signal comes back quickly when you get out of somewhere with no service (subway ,etc.) ?

I'm so happy for you good luck

Kelly,

Glad to hear that your phone is working!! Just wondering though from your earlier posts you said that you were at a Verizon store and on the phone with Apple. They didn't have you apply this update in those 2 hours? Apple released a minor update last week for the 4S. It has been working for some people and not for others. Hope it works for you!

Dear All ,

i have written on this thread several times regarding the 8 times a day reboot to get my signal back and all the problemas arriving from it -

i have the phone for the last 18 days nows and on the 15th day after trying all the tricks and the latest update 9A406 etc etc , i called up apple and they got my phone picked up the next day through UPS , and in 2 days i got a new phone back - I:E diffent serial number . i have been testing it since 12 hrs now and NOT ONCE it did the  no service pull on me ,

it is running on on 5.0.1 ( 9A405) ,

Gentlemen dont suffer like i did , just send it back to Apple they will do the rest for you -

to err is human

merry christmas and a happy new year

chaghalhastam - Not saying it will be the solution for everyone but my old iPhone4s was dropping to No service all the time and I had changed my Sim 3 times. THe phone would also not pick a signal up when I came out of the London underground, resulting in me having to turn the phone on/off.

I finally took it back to the Apple store and was given a replacement. I have had this replacement for 5 weeks now and so far I can report I have had no drop of signal and when I come back up from the underground it picks up my O2(UK) network straight away.

The other thing to note is that I am still on original 5.0.1 ( 9A405).

Good luck

J

Thanks for your answer , my iPhone 4S also picks up network automatically but it's much slower than my friends 3GS who was with me.Her 3GS signal came back just as we get out but it takes about a minute for mine to regain signal. Now I want to know is this my phones problem or iOS probelm because her phone was not on iOS5.

No, replacing the iPhone will give you the same problem.

iOS 5.0.1 9A406 helps to fix the signal drop issue although mine still has it.

Coming out of a subway or underground area, the iPhone still hunts for 1 to 2 mins afterwards to get a signal.

I am on my third replacement.

Based on my assumptions that iOS 5.0.1 was suppose to fix the battery issue and didn't and since iOS 5.0.1 9A406 was suppose to fix the signal and didn't... I am thinking Apple has no clue what is going on and how to fix it without Steve Jobs!  If Steve was alive, this problem would have been fixed once and within 30 days and not several times and in 90 days!  Tim Cook is a failure. Apple is a failure.  Tim Cook is going to destroy Apple in 2 to 3 years because people are frustrated, tired and upset and will move away from iPhone. I can see it in the blogs, forums and talking to people.

Shame on APPLE!

To add even more confusion to this mess, there are now reports of a new scenario taking place. I read on TUAW that CDMA carriers (both Sprint and Verizon) were sent GSM provisioned iPhone 4S's from Apple. The carriers didn't catch on to this and customers were spending hours with customer support, standing on their heads, trying to get the phone to work. If you are on Sprint or Verizon and got an iPhone 4S very recently, I would suggest that you direct the service rep to the TUAW blog to possibly save you some time. From my experiences in this "No Service" mess, not everybody knows the same info, even within the same company. The story on TUAW is a very interesting one, even if you aren't a customer. Verizon seems to be doing a lot of damage to itself. Apple too.

Google: "Some Verizon customers received GSM-provisioned iPhones"

Bluefusion,

I had all the same "no service" and "signal problem" and i had firmware version 9A405 when I got my brand new iPHone. updating it to the latest build solved my problem. It never recurred. Try this link and see if it helps: http://iphone-and-i.blogspot.com/2011/12/fixing-iphone-4s-signal-problem.html