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

I have just purchased iPhone4S for my wife as X'mas gift, but now it has become X'mas pain!!!

I purchased the iPhone4S through one of Hong Kong mobile carrier, which is unlock, and it is fine for usage in Hong Kong. But when she brought it to China and then inserted her China Mobile SIM card, she has experienced all the problems you all have described above. She tried both cutting the ordinary SIM card to small size card and latest new micro SIM obtained from China Mobile. She can just seldomly make one call or receive one call. Most of time it is useless.

Therefore, she tried to purchase one "神州行" SIM card, i.e. Easyown SIM card, which is not requiring any registration. Interestingly it works fine with iPhone4S without any problem, for both making call, receiving call, sending SMS and receiving SMS, just like normal iPhone4.

As it looks like the problem is particularly related to IOS5.0.1 with 全球通 GoTone subscribers SIM card, now the only alternative is purchasing one "神州行" Easyone SIM card for temporary usage and then forward all calls from her existing GoTone SIM card phone number to this "神州行" Easyone SIM card phone number, and then wait until IOS5.0.2 is available for seeing if it can thorougly fix the problem.

I wonder why there is no official reply from Apple as to what to do or how long we need to wait.

Switchig to China Unicom is an option but i would lose my cell number which I had for 10 years..

It is really frustrating.

Finally!!!

For the past 1 month I did a lot of testing with my 4s phone and Sim Card.

My card works just fine with other iphone 4.

Other carrier's SIM card works fine with my iphone 4s. but searching took a while.

Then, last week I bought a new 4s for my Wife, with factory software version iOS 5.0.1.

My card works just fine in her phone.

I came to conclude that it is my iPhone 4s or its software and not China Mobile connection/Sim Card.

So, I called Apple helpline, share my testing and observation over the past 1 months. The Apple Cust. Serv ( I think he is based in US though I was calling HK Apple) also confirm there is something with my phone or the software.

The Apple CS assist me to make an immediate Genius Appoinment in IFC Apple.

Check in and go thorugh the same discussion with the IFC support guy.

They replace me with a new iPhone!!!

Everything works ok now and connection/signal is solid, even stronger than 3 or smartone.

Now I can conclude that iPhone is the best phone in the World!!!!

So, I suggest you test your SIM card with other 4s phone.

I believe it was the glitch and software error in the 1st batch of 4s phone release.

Dont wait for iOS 5.0.2, just go to the APPLE shop and get it fix or replace!!!!!!!! "Delay No More"!!!!!

Oh God i am going through the same thing, bought an Iphone4s as wedding anniversary/ Christmas surprise for my wife while in Sydney 3 weeks ago through Apple direct. Talk about a super let down when I gave it to her In China and it didn't work even after trying another 3 China Mobile simm cards. Same as most she has had the phone number for many many years and not prepared to change it. The iphone has become a very expensive ornament, pay $A800 for phone that won't work. My $43 cheapo works great. What sort of junk are Apple selling these days. A phone to work nowhere, what a con.

Thankyou Ahhuat, I will try the sim card in my friends phone (China Mobile and it's working no problems) to see if it works and of course his in ours. I spoke to a bloke in Sydney this morning (Iphone 4s Support) and he was going to run through resetting the phone and any other checks we could do but my wife had the simm in her other phone. I have a case number so we will try that later today. He also gave me number and same address of the Appleshop with support that you went to, International Finance Centre Mall. See how we go, it is still disappointing that this is happening, Apple must be aware of this problem but choose to say nothing, not good!!!

If any of you bought the first batch iPhone 4s, you are bound to have software issue like me.

I tested my phone / SIM with different phones and with different sim cards in my phone.

Weird thing is all other SIM cards (other carrier than China Mobile) works fine with my iPhone 4s, but initial start up netwrk search will take quite a while.

I was able to find a conclusion when my card was working successful with my wife new iPhone 4s (1 mth after launching).

No doubt whatsoever, it must be the fault of my phone.

1 month of fustration and irritation. Finally Apple store (via genius appoinment) in IFC, HK agreed to replace my phone to a new one (I hope it is new as claimed by the Apple guy).

What a relief......

However, another test pending:

I am using 2 numbers (HK and China) China Mobile SIM card.

I need to make sure the same successful connection/SMS is working well when I cross the China border this weekend.

I will report back.

To all, dont wait and do nothing, go to your nearest Apple shop and get it repair or replace!!!

By the way, my friend in china is also using China Mobile. I just got him a new iPhone 4s, iOS 5.0.1 (got it from online last week).

Everything works well. No problem at all.

Hence, it is not China Mobile issue, it is the phone itself.

Oh my god!

PLEASE HELP ME!

I am in Malaysia and I bought iphone 4s 1month ago and upgraded it to 5.0.1.

it worked about 4days but after that I faced the same problem and I couldn't send text, make calls.....

I went to Apple store but they told me we can not change the phone for you because this is not launched in Malaysia yet!!! If you search my phone U can get that it's from united kingdom!

Anyway, now neihter seller nor Apple support in Malaysia accept my iphone 4s and it seems I threw 800$ in the bin!!!!

I hate apple!!!

Oh my god!

PLEASE HELP ME!

I am in Malaysia and I bought iphone 4s 1month ago and upgraded it to 5.0.1.

it worked about 4days but after that I faced the same problem and I couldn't send text, make calls.....

I went to Apple store but they told me we can not change the phone for you because this is not launched in Malaysia yet!!! If you search my phone U can get that it's from united kingdom!

Anyway, now neihter seller nor Apple support in Malaysia accept my iphone 4s and it seems I threw 800$ in the bin!!!!

I hate apple!!!

I tried my sim card in my friends iphone 4s yesterday and it works perfectly in his phone. His phone was purchased in Canada, mine Australia, both about the same time. Tried his sim card in my phone and a little better, managed 2 calls out and 1 in before no signal.

This certainly seems to indicate a problem with the phone rather than the sim card.

Tried to get on to support today to go through resetting the phone and any other checks I can do but none available even though supposed to be available sundays, 9-00am to 18-00pm, just aplogies!

Maybe they can't handle the problems. I noticed there are 1,854 views on this, each one could be the same situation.

I did notice a little difference in the way my sim card was cut compared to his, a little of the edge of the circuitry cut off on mine whereas his was clear all the way round. However as i said mine worked perfectly in his phone.

I have a spare sim card so I will get this cut tomorrow to make sure all circuitry intack and then try support tomorrow evening or Tuesday.

If they can't help then it looks like the phone will need to be sent to Hong Kong or I will have to make a day trip (bit expensive) for repair or replacement similar to Ahhuat.

I had the same problem for a long time. But Apple has published a tweaked update for it. Try this link:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4148

So far, it seems to have worked for me, too. (o2 - Germany) It is worth giving it a try!

Thankyou Spielothek, I'll try that later tonight. My wife has taken the sim cards and phone with her to get the spare sim card cut. No doubt wants to be the one that fixes the phone, .

My wife had my sim card cut today and everything works properly in the iphone 4s with that simm card. When you compare the two sim cards mine is similar to our frinds sim card. The circuitry is in the centre of the card so when it is cut it the whole of the circuitry is on the cut card. The new sim cards that China Mobile are using (Blue in colour) has the circuitry offset so when they cut the card some of the circuitry is cut off. This may be causing trouble in some phones, although this card worked in our friends phone.

the whole thing is indeed a nightmare.

I just went to update the phone as it said there were updates available, some 70 minutes later it told me phone could not be updated as the firm ware was incompatible. What's going on, this is crazy.

I'm now restoring the original factory settings through I cloud, but it will be another 70 minutes and will probably say the same thing

These things were attempted with my sim card by the way that had the phone working ok, but still these problems.

It probably would have been better to buy HTC or Samsung.

just put the 动感地带 sim card in！

Really?

How can you buy an iphone directly from Apple, try to update the operating system as suggested by itunes when connected and then be told after 70 minutes that the update can't be done because the firmware is incompatable. Then when you go to restore the factory settings once again through itunes as suggested and then be told after another 70 minutes that the factory settings can't be restored because the firmware is incompatable.

Amazing is not quite the word that comes to mind.