Users report SIM card issues with Apple's iPhone 4S and iOS 5.0.1
One reader contacted AppleInsider on Thursday to share their frustrations with error messages that read "Invalid SIM" and "SIM Failure" on their iPhone 4S. This person said the errors began occurring after they updated to iOS 5.0.1, though other users posting on Apple's official Support Communities website, in a thread with more than 30,000 views to date, have experienced similar problems since the iPhone 4S first went on sale in October.
"This problem can only be solved when you reboot your iPhone," the person, who is an AT&T customer, wrote in an e-mail. "Everything else fails — restore, removal of the SIM, etc."
When users experience a SIM-card-related error, basic functions including making phone calls, sending text messages, and using mobile data become unavailable, as the handset cannot make a connection with the wireless data provider.
The iPhone 4S is a "world phone," which means its redesigned antenna and internal components are compatible with both CDMA and GSM carriers. Micro SIM cards placed in the iPhone 4S are only used by GSM carriers to identify a subscriber and grant them access to a carrier's wireless network.
But while only GSM carriers, like AT&T in the U.S., use the micro SIM slot on the iPhone 4S, users on CDMA carriers, like Verizon and Sprint, have also reported experiencing SIM-card-related errors. iPhone 4S units sold through CDMA carriers come with a "roaming SIM" installed, which allows CDMA customers to roam worldwide on GSM networks.
"No service on my white 32 GB 4S on Verizon," user 'racyb' wrote in October. "Did a shutdown and reboot....it went into searching mode and finally found Verizon again after 1 minute. What is going on?"
Since the release of iOS 5.0.1 earlier this month, another thread at the Apple Support Communities website features more users who say the problems began occurring after they updated their iPhone 4S. Some say their iPhone displays full signal reception, yet error messages like "Call Failed" and "Invalid SIM" continue to display.
"Same problem here in Brazil," user 'GuiMedrado' wrote on Wednesday. "Bought my 4S - 32GB unlocked in Switzerland and couldnt' make it work after upgrading to 5.0.1. Any solution?"
The iOS 5.0.1 update was released earlier this month in an attempt to address battery life issues reported by some users. But some battery-related problems have remained, and Apple has publicly said it is still working to fix those issues.
One rumor this week claimed that Apple will issue a new update, iOS 5.0.2, no later than next week in a second attempt to improve battery life with iOS 5. There was no mention of any fixes for SIM card issues or error messages.
31 Comments
I have the iPhone 4s on Verizon and I had the SIM card error the first two days I had the phone. Hasn't happened since.
My brother have the same problem with his new iPhone 4S. We did a restore from ipsw downloaded from Apple.com and setup as new iPhone. Everything worked great until he updated to 5.0.1. The error keep showing up every few hours.
Dodged another bullet! Whew.
My brother have the same problem with his new iPhone 4S. We did a restore from ipsw downloaded from Apple.com and setup as new iPhone. Everything worked great until he updated to 5.0.1. The error keep showing up every few hours.
I had the SIM failure error but haven't had it in two weeks. My daughter would get searching at the top of her phone, Apple swapped it out and she hasn't had the problem since. I updated all the phones to 5.0.1.
The battery issue for me still seems a bit odd. Yesterday I didn't use my iPhone much and 12 hours later I was still at 98%, it was in sleep mode most of the day. This morning I woke up and the batter drained down to 92% with no apps open.
Boy, the number of issues with the 4S is rapidly approaching absurd levels, especially when you consider the fact that Apple had a longer than usual development cycle for what was essentially a swap of internal components into an existing design. I bought the 4S thinking that with 18 months since the release of the 4, Apple would have ironed out all the issues and the 4S would be rock solid from day 1. I haven't had this sim card issue, though my phone hemorrhages battery so fast I feel like I own a 4G android device.
The only possible excuse Apple could possibly have for all these issues is that they were indeed planning to release a redesigned iPhone 5, but some design/supply chain issue forced them to abandon that plan at the last minute and slap together the 4S. If Apple has really been developing and testing the 4S over the last 18 months, then they did a terrible job.