Q: Iphone 4s - 3G connection disappears after using wi-fi

I have been in contact with Apple support and they told me that there could be push issues related to the Exchange Servers that are used by our email providers.

i tried disabling mine and still got issues.

FYI, I just wrote a letter to David Pogue of the NY Times Personal Tech column describing this blog and this issue.

If he has the guts to stand up to Apple, maybe he'll publish something. He has a very large e-readership, and that just might hurt Apple's sales enough to get them to move on this issue.

Here is what I wrote:

"There is a huge blog on the Apple Support Communities network ( Re: Iphone 4s - 3G connection disappears after using wi-fi) describing the endless hoops that Apple Customer Support is putting iPhone 4S customers through to try to fix a bug.

The bug, quite simply, is that when your iPhone 4S is in a WiFi zone, and you leave that zone and go into 3G, it's supposed to switch to 3G automatically. Well for a huge number of iPhone 4S users around the world, it doesn't. And many of these users, including myself, also have the older iPhone 4 that does not have this problem, and we are using the same apps, the same iTunes, the same WiFi router, the same everything. Many of us have tried reseting network settings, replacing the phone for a new one (if you're on AppleCare), nothing works !

Is SIRI misbehaving ? Apple is acting very cavalier about this.

Maybe you should consider shaking them up at Apple ? "

As I have noted earlier, it is not only this thread in the forum but others that are documenting the same loss of cellular data but are calling it by different names.

I personally don't think it is related to wi-fi as I operated with wi-fi turned off for several weeks and still experienced the issue.

I do think it is a complex bug relating to the OS and background processes and do think it requires Apple to debug.

I was having the same problem with my 4S and it was definately linked to use of my home Wi-Fi.

Reading the various blogs and looking at the symptoms, it appeared to be a DNS issue. Sure enough, I found a work around that seems to be working for me (see link below)

My phone is with Optus and my home ISP is TPG. The Modem/router is configured with fixed DNS addresses advised by TPG. The work-around is simple. On your iPhone or iPad going into settings and select your home Wi-Fi and press the blue arrow. Next to DNS, you will see one or more DNS IP addresses. Replace this with the same IP address as the Router address. In my case, it was 192.168.1.1

http://isource.com/2009/11/14/workaround-for-one-of-the-iphoneipod-touch-wifi-bu gs/

Guys, keep feedbacking weekly! http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I have the same problem on my iPhone 4, not an S. whenever I come out of a train tunnel the phone appears to acquire the network, even 3G. When I go to an app or safari then it just hangs. I cant see how this is to do with wifi as on the train I don't get any wifi connections along the way.

Only solution is to turn off then on, airplane mode on and then Off doesn't help. Once turned back on I often get mails, text/SMS messages etc. not sure if I have missed any calls tho'. Apps and safari then work as well!

iPhone 4

OS 5.0

Network: Tesco (O2)

Seems to happen a lot since O2's big network outage which was an issue with phones ability to acquire network , I believe.

Any solutions gladly welcome. None of the above has worked for me!

Folks, I have a strategy suggestion.

Apple is acting so nonchalant and cavalier about this whole issue, I suggest that we all write to the competitors (Samsung, Blackberry, other Android suppliers) and let them know about this problem, and let their sales people have a field day with this competitive info. Maybe if this problem starts to cost Apple sales, then maybe they will at least acknowledge the problem openly and take immediate corrective action.

Please KEEP feeding back to Apple weekly ! http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

Yes! KEEP FEEDBACKING TO APPLE WEEKLY!

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

hmm  no other devs have responded to this quite large problem to confirm this.  Not long now until ios6 is out so i will wait to pass judgement on this but with no other posts this smells like an apple Subjugation!

I am facing same problem in India. Didn't realize issue related to APPLE, talking all the time with my service provider.Any expected date to release new IOS?

After 4 months of living through this issue I have finally found a really easy solution to this problem that I wanted to share with everyone - I bought a HTC One X.

Wow, my problems are completely gone! No issues with dropping 3g connections, no issue of moving between wifi and cell data, and works with Exchange Servers.

Since I've spent my $500 on the HTC One X, guess I won't be getting that iPhone 5 when it comes out.

Share this easy solution to everyone you know.

My wife and I both have an iPhone 4S, but we don't have the same carrier (work related).

I have Proximus and lose my 3G connection after using wifi every two days

My wife has Mobistar and never has this problem

So I'm pretty sure the problem is software/carrier related. Let's hope the new iOS 6 will solve all issues... fingers crossed!

Yes, to JedWare's comment - this might not be just a WiFi switching to cellular network problem - there is another post about the same problem on 3GS - where the data stops working - all the same possible recommendations are offered - see here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3959098?start=0&tstart=0

I have an ATT network 3GS - and recently developed this problem - data just stops working - I was told to turn off 3G and data, then put in airplane mode, then take out of airplane mode, turn on data first, then turn on 3G, it always starts working again, but then ends up dropping again - never lasts more than a few days at most - it is really annoying.

It seems that this is happening on different model phones, on different networks, which points the finger at an Apple/software problem.  I still see no solid solution in any of the different posts that all seem to be related to the same issue - losing data connectivity on iPhone.  I have tried resetting network settings, restore, new SIM card, etc.  But nothing lasts. 

BTW, wondering if perhaps ios 6 coming out in two days might have a software fix for the problem, especially if it is a bug with the push feature from an Exchange account - which I have and use?  I guess we'll see in two days!

Oh dear... Just to let anyone who reads this to know, Apple Tech DOES NOT work with data or voice.  It is very minimal support in that area because it's a manufacturer, not you and the contract you signed with your carrier.

BIG Difference.

Wifi and data can be enabled at the same time, but sometimes when the area changes, the phone cannot compute because it's trying to work with two different options.

Sometimes even when you are in a specific place for a while.

This is because the carrier sets you up with a plan, not the manufacturer.  Apple, in this case, makes phones and a whole bunch of other products.

I hope that was made clearer.

Toggle wi-fi and data.

Turn the device off and back on

Reset by using home and power buttons simultaneously