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Level 1

12 points

Cannot activate factory unlocked iPhone 4S: SIM not valid

4 month ago I purchased a factory unlocked iPhone 4S in a France Apple Store (about 630 euros). I´m from Argentina and the fact that the phone is factory unlocked was necessary for me to use it in my country.

After my trip to France, I arrived to Argentina and inserted my micro-sim into the new iPhone. It showed the "Activate iPhone" screen, went through the steps and the phone worked perfectly with my Carrier.

Yesterday I wanted to change of carrier, so I inserted the new micro-sim (brand new, never used) into the phone. It showed the same "Activate iPhone" screen BUT it won’t activate. It says "SIM not valid" and "Only compatible SIM cards from a supported carrier may be used to activate iPhone. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported carrier´s store to receive a replacement SIM card” I inserted my old micro-sim and it worked correctly... Inserted the new one again and wont activate, showing me the error mentioned. The phone catches signal and the 3G icon also appears, so it seems the iPhone and the sim card are working.

This is an image of the error (not my phone, found it in the web): http://i40.tinypic.com/55fcxy.jpg

I tried restoring the iPhone to fix this and things got worse: Now I can’t activate even my old and new micro-sim, leaving my iPhone 4S useless (can’t pass the activate screen).

What I have done:

-Tested both micro-sims in another iPhone 4S (factory unlocked) bought the same day and in the same Apple Store and they worked correctly.

-Tested both micro-sims in another phone, the work OK.

-Tried restoring into DFU mode. Same error, can’t pass the activate screen.

-Called Apple Support in the US. After 20 minutes we couldn’t find a solution, they suggested me to go to an Apple Store and change my iPhone for a new one (223 warranty days left).

In my country we don’t have Apple Stores and i can´t have access to one, so now i have an iPhone 4S i cant not eve use as an iPod, leaving it totally useless.

For me it seems a software issue, like if Apple detected my iPhone as "not factory-unlocked" and tells me to insert the one of the original carrier. I DONT HAVE AN ORGINAL CARRIER SIM CARD AS THE PHONE DIND´T CAME WITH ONE (FACTORY UNLOCKED).

About my iPhone:

iOS 6.0 (restored twice from iTunes)

No jailbreak

No "soft unlocks" or "Gevey unlock" was used (it was unlocked and didn´t need it).

I will greatly appreciate any help!!

Apple Support Team: If you need the IMEI or Serial Number please ask me.

Thanks in advanced,

Matias

iPhone 4S, iOS 6

Posted on Oct 24, 2012 4:48 AM

41 replies

Fspayne

Level 1

0 points

Sep 16, 2014 8:39 AM in response to YYR123

APple are control freaks there is no World Wide Web for them just a series of boundaries with network complications their systems certainly not designed for world travellers my direct family are all locked in on Apple iPads iPhones and laptops and around the world all are very limited at every turn and now all of them are envious of my Samsung Galaxy note which works all over the world without restrictions.

Want3d

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2014 9:43 AM in response to matias_2

Hallo. I have same problem with my son's iPhone 4. I bought it as Factory unloked, SIM not Valid. 3 diferent networks I try, nothink.

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Dec 13, 2014 9:57 AM in response to Want3d

Then it is NOT unlocked, Simple

Who told you it was unlocked from all carriers ????? The seller on eBay

Want3d

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2014 10:01 AM in response to wegras

on the box is label, in the site they write that. and when i contact with the store, they say "must be a factory unlocked"

Want3d

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2014 10:11 AM in response to wegras

http://www.mytrendyphone.no/shop/iphone-4-8gb-119110p.html

I bought it here

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Dec 13, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Want3d

It "must " be and you believed them 😁

Get your money back and in future ONLY buy iPhones from Authorised Apple iPhone resellers .This outfit clearly is not authorised ,you have an iBrick

and have benn ripped off

ps Apple does not label the boxes unlocked 😁😁

Want3d

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2014 10:57 AM in response to wegras

store even wanna fix it. But for me its little bit complicate to send it back, wait until problem be resolved and resendet back.

Maybe its posible to resolve the problem as remote? f.exemple i send them IMEI, and they will fix?

P.S. in official store, isnt any iphone 4! or for a kid i suppose tu buy iphone 6?

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

230,371 points

Dec 13, 2014 11:52 AM in response to Want3d

The only way to get a phone unlocked is to find out what carrier the device is locked to and ask them if they provide unlocking services and if you qualify. The carrier is the only one authorized to unlock the device. Apple does not unlock phones, and anyone other than the carrier is a hack. You purchased a gray market phone from a non-authorized reseller and who knows where it came from or who it is locked to. And to top that off, the iPhone warranty is not international, it is country specific and is only good in the country of purchase. Exceptions to that would be if you purchased a phone destined for another country, which is what it sounds like, or in the EU. For warranty purposes, the EU is a single country.