iphone4s can't use China Mobile's sim card after updating to 5.01

Thanks once again spielothek, If I get to a wireless connection I will try it. I have spent at least 2 1/2 hours on the phone to Apple Support today, we have tried every conceivable way to fix the update problem, I was hoping that would fix the original simm card problem.

This last 45 minutes just past was with a Senior Supervisor, they didn't think much of your way of updating just think you were lucky, 😁 you have to laugh or you would cry.

Anyway the short of it is if this last action of creating a new user on my computer with a new Itunes download does not work then it is repair or replace the phone.

I wish everyone with these problems would all ring Apple support to complain or whatever!!!

There are now coming on for 2,200 views of this one discussion about China Mobile simm cards, possibly everyone of them have the same problems or they may be future purchasers but Apple say they don't know anything about it. Really!!!!😮

I wish Apple would brief all Geniuses at Apple Store about this problem. Even though iPhone 4s is not officially released in China. It is known that most China residents get their sets in HK and other cities for use in China.

If China is such an important market for Apple's future why not let us know what to do officially or at least via the local Apple Store in Shanghai and other cities.

I am a big fan of Apple and not ready to give-up yet inspite of my frustration with my new iPhone 4S with a China Mobile SIM. No Service, No SIM messages every few hours is testing my patience.

Looking forward to a resolution soon.

I am now running 5.0.1 (9A405) and of course having problems. Does 9A406 really solve the problem? I am so sick and tired of restoring my phone as I lose some data on some apps I think. And to be honest I am just fed up and I'm reluctant to spend any more time fiddling with it.

I am in UK at the moment and my O2 SIM works perfectly. I think I will switch to China Unicom when I get back in Jan if there is still not an update by then.

Hi Bunnyhon, apparently this update (5.0.1 9A406) is supposed to resolve the problem.🙂

Spielothek (previous posts) who was having the same problems as most of us was able to update to the same operating system that you currently have 5.0.1 (9A405).

This then apparently allowed him to update to 5.0.1 (9A406) by connecting to Itunes and updating (window opens telling you there is an update available) and appears to have solved his problems.

You have nothing to lose so you might as well go for it.😉

My phone seems to have more issues, I can not update to this latest tweak as the file in the firmware on my phone (get this) is apparently not compatable with the update, amazing!!! The last attempt to rectify the situation handled by a Senior Supervisor last night failed. I have spent about 4 hours total time talking to Apple support, no one admitting there is a problem, treating it like it is an isolated situation, what a joke!!!!😠

It may well be that going to 9A405 would sort out the firmware on my phone but they say they don't know about 9A405. Another joke!!! Anyway I can't do it at present because I don't have a wireless connection.😢

Anyway I am to contact them to let them know what happened and as it failed it looks like the phone needs to go to an authorized Apple repair place. They will arrange an appointment or postage for me. I will do that later today.😟

Incidentally, the phone works fine with my China mobile simm card but not with my wifes. Same with my friends simm card, works perfectly. By the way those 2 that work are identical and mostly white with the circuitry in the centre, my wifes simm is mainly blue in colour and has the circuitry offset to one side and this is the one which does not work in our phone. However, this simm card works in my friends phone, so how does that happen?😕

Try the update. If you still have the problem after your return get on to Apple Support 4006 272273 (China) and moan, if enough do it it will be sorted sooner. (p.s. Get them to ring you back so they pay for the call😉).

By the way that difference in the simm cards was mentioned previously and someone suggested trying different shops to see if any had the white ones with the centred circuitry, but my God where does it end, traipsing all over China looking for a particular simm card, Crazy!!!😀

Oh I forgot Bunnyhon, you are losing some of your data, well the update is suppose to work but you will not find out until you return.

Can you do a couple of backups in seperate places, I'm not an expert?

Two hours on the phone with Apple Help Line trying to restore iPhone to no avail. Now my phone is stuck in restore mode and can't be used. Have to go to Pudong Apple store tomorrow to see if they can sort it out. What a misery. So much hassle.

Beware, a batch of iPhone 4S is faulty especially if you update to iOS 5.0.1

Thanks sykes1st. I clicked updates and it says no update is for me. I am now doing a restore and it's going to take 2 hours to load the software. What a load of bs. I am trying to stay calm. Thanks for the tips nonetheless I hope I have to patience to see it through. The option of switching to China Unicom is getting more appealing! Why put up with 2.5G with China Telecom to begin with? It's a shame that I've used the same number for almost 7 years but i do get a lot of spam calls as a result. Maybe it's time for a new start!

Hi Bunnyhon, how perculiar, another thing with Apple update. Works for Spielothek but not you. It seems this is normal for Apple, we are all supposed to have the same phone, advertised as the international phone but what works for one doesn't for another, crazy!!! The cost as well, unlocked phones in America and Canada $US500 as opposed to $US800 everywhere else.

You may be right in thinking it's time for a change. The other thing is that China Unicom is the official chinese representative for Iphones in China and as such with their simm card inserted must be partly responsible for service and repairs.

I would certainly think seriously about it, bit of a hassle, but you really only need the important people in your life to know you new number.

Best of luck on your return.

I checked the 5.0.1 9a406 and 5.1 beta 1 and 2 but it cannot fix the sim card failure. What is going on apple. Are you trying to make your customers insane.

OMG thank you so much sykes1st for giving me faith to go through the fix. My phone is now working!! Can I say it out loud or would I jinx it? I managed to call and receive calls for the first time since mid Nov after the nightmare 5.01 upgade.

So this is my setup:

phone 64G white from Australia

firmware 5.01 9A406

my china mobile sim is a white micro card which i switched (for the 4th time) in beginning december in the YinChung Rd branch Pudong. I have a friend whose micro card works right from the start and she got hers from Changshu road in Puxi, her phone came from the UK though. As the repair dude from China Mobile told me before they have different batches of sim and you might want to switch around. It would appear though that 9A406 fixed the problems though. And since the update I think my wifi reception has improved! What a bonus!

Basically I had 5.01 9A405 on my phone and i was having so many problems. When I plugged my phone in to itune and clicked update it said no update available. I had to click restore and spent 2 hours to download and another hour to sync but I am happy that now my phone is up and running. My apps data seem to be ok too.

Good luck guys and thank you everybody for sharing your experiences and tips.

That's wonderful Bunnyhon, Spielothek deserves the credit.

So your phone and your friend's phone work with one of the new micro simm cards, that's interesting, it seems there are many many different little things that occur from phone to phone. I wonder if there is a sleeve available so that if my wife changes to a Micro Simm she can put it back in her Nokia if it doesn't work. We have been trying to find another simm the same as my one but most shops seem to have the new stock blue offset ones same as the one she has now that only works in some phones.

Ok, i'll see if I can find out more about the micro card.

Thankyou.

Hi Tanfromha Noi, yes my wife still has the problem with the simm card, but we are also unable to download anything from Itunes, the files in the firmware are apparently incompatible, crazy!!!

The update 5.0.1 (9A406) has at least got Bunnyhon's phone working, and appears to improved a couple of applications as well so it is probably a combination of that plus the simm cards. As you can see from the post there have been 4 cards tried there, the friend's worked straight away, my friends worked straight away and so did mine, but my wife's didn't. But my wife's card worked in my friends phone; therefore it's more than likely her phone is the problem.

So we personally have 2 problems, the simm card and the firmware in the phone. Probably best to get the phone itself up to specification and then play around some more with the simm cards if needed after the update.

Sorry to announce the official death of my new iPhone 4S.

A genius was guiding me to restore and when it failed he recommended doing it in DFU Mode. The phone is stuck in DFU mode now and would not respond.

Took it to Pudong, Shanghai Apple Store where the team was professional and friendly but announced that it can not be repaird in China and I should try HK where I bought it.

I am back to my iPhone 3G until I can buy a new one. No planned tips to HK in the near future.

Some are some serious bugs in a batch of iPhones 4S that were sold early on and the problem would only show up when you update to the first version of iOS 5.0.1

Good luck everyone & Merry Christmas...

TheAT, don't you have a guarantee for the phone for the first 12 months, in particular I am sure there is an Apple promise to fix any problems or replace the phone in the first 3 months.

Surely the Shanghai Shop/Service can send the phone to whoever for repair or replacement. They can check the validity of Service agreements from the serial number. They must have given you a case number.

Apple guarantees are supposed to be world wide. I would not just lay down and take that from them. Sounds like the old familiar Chinese proverb "Nobody is responsible."

Contact Apple support, outline the problems you have had and demand to speak to a Senior supervisor. You must know the number for China 4006 272273.

They told me that they can make a postal arrangement if I am unable to call at an authorized repair centre for my phone and have documented that on the case number file.

If that fails ring the Head Office. Make a noise, make a nuisance of yourself.

The more people that moan and if possible get the problem in the papers or news, particularly after paying $US800 the more they will take notice.

Mobile phones are in a very competative business, another brand will be just as good as Apple in a short time.

Thank you for your note. I talked to the Apple Store Manager who said they can not do anything now until the iPhone 4S is released in China. I guess you are right, I was nice about it and did not want to be nasty but sometimes you need to push for your right. They have checked my phone and found that it is still under warantee.

I called the service number and lodged a complaint, got just a "we are sorry" reply but no offer for further action.

You have motivated me to take it further. I appreciate your post.

With best,