I've been struggling with the invalid SIM card and bad signal issues for a week, since the first day I received the iPhone 4S, then yesterday I noticed the release of the new iOS 5.0.1 build, I restored the iPhone with that firmware (without OTA updates or anything like that) and all my problems disappeared, It's now working perfectly, I was really frustrated with the issue to the point my iPhone 4S was basically an iPod Touch. I was going to return the iPhone to the US today , and the worst part is that I live in Bogota, Colombia, so I saved those expensive shipping costs and the frustration of waiting 800 days to receive the new one back. This new iOS 5.0.1 build basically saved my life.

This is kind of weird. Why wouldn't they call this 5.0.2 and have everyone get it?

Did they think it was risky so wanted to have a slow ramp-up, by only having upgraders and restorers get it?

Did they think their servers couldn't handle the load? That can't be -- they've rolled out lots of updates to masses before.

I don't understand the rationale here.

Having the same messages since iOS 5 from time to time with my iPhone 4. The only way to fix it, is to remove the SIM when the iPhone is turned on. I always have a paperclip in my wallet in case I get this message again.

I still maintain that this is also a hardware problem, specifically a faulty SIM problem, althougth since a software fix seems to alleviate some problems, perhaps it is a combo platter of slightly bad SIM cards and iOS being too sensitive.

My rationale is that I had this problem, but it cropped up about two weeks after launch day. I took it to AT&T and received a new one; no problems for close to two months.

I hope apple fixes the location issue too, google maps does not seems to work at all now as it shows my location from Riyadh to some where in the the fields of china, because of which I cannot use maps, weather and surprisingly the time also needs to be set manually.. As Steve Jobs would say this is shit and apple needs to pul up its socks, unless it is a hardware issue and then we are all screwed. After paying 45k INR for a 16 GB iPhone 4S all I can say is that I have a crap phone which seems to have a mind of its own.

I totally disagree...

I live in Vietnam, and ordered my iPhone 4S online from the Singapore Store.
I put my previous Sim from my iP4 and set up the iP4S up to date.
and started having Provider Signal Problems and Sim Problems too.
Took it to my Vietnamese street-corner iPhone Specialist -
Zakka Mobile Shop, 386 Vo Van Tan, P5, Q3, HCMC, Vietnam, Tel 848-38181402
- The staff took out my Sim Card, looked at it and announced to me that the Chip is an Old Chip Design. I need to get my Provider to re-issue My number using the Latest Sim Card with the Latest Chip Design. All of Vietnam's iPhone street IT knows this and share with each other!
And that is all to it.

Please refer to my attached photo.




Transfering your old sim from iPhone 4 to your new iPhone 4S ,
you will notice your SIM and your Signal perform POORLY!

Use only NEW SIM, with this new CHIP Design for iPhone 4S!
(go to provider to reissue new Sim with same number)

Photo:- of UN CUT Vietnam Sim.
On Left is SIM with Old Design - only iPhone 4.
On Right is NEW SIM with NEW Current CHIP Design -
Use ONLY this for iPhone 4S!!!

I believe they are issuing new sim cards to 4S buyers - both me and my wife were given new sim cards with each 4S we bought! but how many are putting them down at home thinking there's no point, I wonder.

P.S. Just updated my 4S to the latest iOS OTA, but it's v.9A405, not 9A406 as stated at the head of this topic ..what gives with that? anybody?

To update to 9A406 you have to connect iphone to computer and restore the phone using iTunes.