iPhone 4 Message:SIM Required (in phone that has no SIM card slot)

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Level 2

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iPhone 4 Message:SIM Required (in phone that has no SIM card slot)

I have a Verizon iPhone 4 (CDMA), model A1349, which has no SIM card. It has never had a SIM card. There is no place to put a SIM card in. This is my phone and worked perfectly since I purchased it new. I bought a new iPhone 6 for myself and want to put this phone on my son's phone line. We have spent hours with Verizon and they cannot help us. When we try to do something with this phone we get the message: "SIM Required - Please insert a SIM card" "Try Again." Like I said - there is no SIM card. This model iPhone has no place to insert a SIM card. We are completely and utterly at a loss. Any idea how to get past this? Thanks.

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3), 48 GB 1333 MHz DDR23 FB

Posted on Jan 25, 2015 9:42 AM

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Answer 1

KiltedTim

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Jan 25, 2015 10:09 AM in response to rosindabow

Restore iOS using iTunes.

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Answer 2

rosindabow Author

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Jan 25, 2015 10:19 AM in response to KiltedTim

No - does not work - same message

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

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Jan 25, 2015 11:39 AM in response to rosindabow

Than make an appointment at the genius bar.

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Answer 4

rosindabow Author

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Jan 25, 2015 12:05 PM in response to KiltedTim

Already set up. Thought I would try discussions first before having to go through the genius bar.

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

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Jan 25, 2015 12:08 PM in response to rosindabow

To be honest, I'm not sure what they might be able to do. If a restore before activation is not allowing Verizon to enter the MEID into their system and activate the phone, there has got to be something seriously wrong with that device. I'm guessing here, but your son's line is on Verizon as well?

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Answer 6

rosindabow Author

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Jan 25, 2015 12:19 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Yes - son's line is Verizon as well. This phone was working perfectly when I turned it off to switch to my iPhone 6. Had all my contacts, used it regularly. All I did was turn it off and clear it out so that we could switch it to my son's line. We did a DFU reset (I think that is what it is called) It's truly very strange indeed. Verizon actually contact a Tier 3 Apple advisor who hung up on us before I was able to get onto the line so the Verizon agent suggested going into the Apple Store. He said they had the capability of doing a 'Flash' reset. Never heard of that before but I'm willing to give it a try. Wish this was easier ... Just wanted to give my son my old iPhone ...

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Answer 7

Jan 31, 2015 5:54 PM in response to rosindabow

Oh my god!!!! The SAME EXACT thing happened to me today!!! This is SOOO frustrating! I've been on the phone with Apple and Verizon for over 5 hours!!! Apple returned my fee to me and said i had to call Verizon, Verizon sounds like they're about to give up and have me call Apple! Somebody help!!!! I don't get it! Where's the issue? It seems to me like the issue lies within Apple and something to do with their firmware update.

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Answer 8

Jan 31, 2015 6:07 PM in response to rosindabow

Did you find a fix??? Please!!

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Answer 9

Jan 31, 2015 6:13 PM in response to Butcher_Cover

Let's be clear. If it is the EXACT same issue this means that you have a Verizon iPhone phone that currently has no Verizon service because you canceled the service on the phone, and it is asking you to insert a SIM when you Restored the phone? If that's correct, everything that is known about this issue has already been posted in this message thread.

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Answer 10

rosindabow Author

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Jan 31, 2015 6:14 PM in response to Butcher_Cover

Hi - No - no fix. I went to the Genius Bar, spent a little less than 2 hours there. The first technician ultimately consulted with the specialist and ultimately I was told that the phone must be bad. I told them repeatedly that the phone was working just fine until I went to switch it to my son's line. They said that there was nothing they could do except to offer me a replacement phone at $149 - to which I said no thanks. Both Verizon and Apple have punted here, neither company admitting culpability. I will hold onto my phone just in case someone at one of their headquarters grows a conscience.

Best of luck - if you hear something, please post.

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Answer 11

rosindabow Author

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Jan 31, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence - no - nothing is known here - you don't understand the issue. Re-read and you will realize that one of these two companies (my guess is Apple) has severely screwed something up and not admitted it. I believe there is some firmware issue that is telling the phone that it has a SIM card (which id doesn't and NEVER did) and thus preventing me and anyone else who tries, to get past this screen. To them, this is a piece of hardware that is old and they probably don't want to spend any time or money figuring it out. Of course, Apple just posted record earnings ... you'd think that they would at least give the customer the benefit of the doubt.

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Answer 12

Jan 31, 2015 6:24 PM in response to rosindabow

wow. So now Verizon is telling me that Apple has to handle it. wow.

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Answer 13

Jan 31, 2015 6:27 PM in response to rosindabow

rosindabow wrote:

Hi Lawrence - no - nothing is known here - you don't understand the issue. Re-read and you will realize that one of these two companies (my guess is Apple) has severely screwed something up and not admitted it. I believe there is some firmware issue that is telling the phone that it has a SIM card (which id doesn't and NEVER did) and thus preventing me and anyone else who tries, to get past this screen. To them, this is a piece of hardware that is old and they probably don't want to spend any time or money figuring it out. Of course, Apple just posted record earnings ... you'd think that they would at least give the customer the benefit of the doubt.

Correct. I apologize. I thought I was answering a different thread, where the user wants to use the phone as an iPod touch and has a similar problem. I don't have an answer here, beyond working first with Verizon, who have incentive to keep a customer and continue billing the phone. If they can't get it working they will lose money. Apple has less incentive to fix a problem with a phone that is 4 generations out of date.

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