New iPhone 4S with a Vodacom SIM : stability problems

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fredgr

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I bought the new iPhone 4S in France last week.

Now that I am back in SA, I inserted my Vodacom SIM card in it (contract).

Although it logs on the network and I see "Vodacom 3G" on the top left, after a few minutes, I cannot place any phone calls anymore, nor being called. And then the "3G" sign disappears and Internet is off, although I live in a full 3G area.

If I restart the iPhone 4S, it works again for a few minutes.

When I insert an overseas SIM card, the device works like a charm, even on Vodacom network.

I phoned Vodacom and they said that it's because this new iPhone 4S is currently not supported in SA and is likely to be on test with their technical staff, hence the problems.

Does this really make sense ?
 
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The networks in France also tend to lock their phones....I think Orange is one of them. But this is weird cause normally if a phone is locked it wont accept any other sim other than the home networks sim at all. Vodacom will not offer support on the device seeing that they did not supply it. Best I can advise is to take it to a Apple Store and see if they can help you. There is now one in Sandton and Eastgate.
 
The iPhone sold by Apple in France is de-Simlocked, I can use SIMS from different countries without a problem, I have 4 different SIM cards from 4 EU countries, and they all work perfectly. The problem only happens when I use the Vodacom SIM on the Vodacom network.
 
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Im gonna say what seems obvious to me, faulty sim ?
 
I had the same idea, so I went to Vodacom for a SIM swap. And then same problem again... After one hour, my iPhone says "NO SERVICE" in the left upper corner...
 
Oh ok, ummmmm then its a weird one, the same hardware will be used on SA networks, so then every person should have your problem also if they use vodascum
 
The technical support at Vodacom is adamant that, until a new cellphone is approved and tested by their service, its use on the Vodacom network is not guaranteed and could result in problems comparable to what I currently experience.

I find this explanation quite strange. Should I give credit to it ?

Are there successful users of iPhone 4S on the Vodacom network here ? :)
 
I know they do extensive tests first, thats why we always have to wait a few months... Im afraid ure stuck up the creek without a paddle for now, be interesting to know if any1 else has this issue. What about trying an mtn sim just to see?
 
I am going to MTN and purchase a pay as you go SIM card. If that works and is stable, bye bye Vodacom
 
Ask Vodacom to activate the iPhone APN.
If it still doesnt work... its network locked.

Testing is only for Vodacom approved stock, will not affect other handsets.
 
iPhone APN has to see with 3G/GPRS

But my new iPhone 4S even loses the Vodacom network for VOICE service, after a few hours. Not only DATA service.
 
fredgr said:
iPhone APN has to see with 3G/GPRS

But my new iPhone 4S even loses the Vodacom network for VOICE service, after a few hours. Not only DATA service.
Click to expand...

Just buy an MTN, 8ta and CellC sim for 99c each (with R10 airtime on each) and test them.
8ta might be the best since they also roam on MTN network for much of the country (DATA).

Anyway, report back to us with findings. It will be quite interesting to see the outcome.

:)
 
Went to MTN Waterfront Cape Town, they had no more SIM or MicroSIM cards anymore. Had to go to Edgars, no MicroSim, got a normal SIM, cut it myself into a MicroSIM. I get a message Welcome to MTN, do you want a new number or a SIM swap, choosing first option, then wait 3 minutes, see the MTN sign on the top left, then disappears again, then get a message : Invalid SIM.

The more I think of it, the more it reminds me of a similar experience a few years ago, when I bought the iPhone 4 way before it was available in SA.
 
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fredgr said:
Went to MTN Waterfront Cape Town, they had no more SIM or MicroSIM cards anymore. Had to go to Edgars, no MicroSim, got a normal SIM, cut it myself into a MicroSIM. I get a message Welcome to MTN, do you want a new number or a SIM swap, choosing first option, then wait 3 minutes, see the MTN sign on the top left, then disappears again, then get a message : Invalid SIM.

The more I think of it, the more it reminds me of a similar experience a few years ago, when I bought the iPhone 4 way before it was available in SA.
Click to expand...

I remember when I registered my iPhone 3G through iTunes, I got a Vodacom config file straight after that. Think it was called Vodacom 7, or something.

Maybe that is what you need, but not sure how you're gonna get it.
 
For information, this is the reply from Vodacom :

Thank you for your e-mail.

We do acknowledge your frustration regarding the handset problems that you are currently having.

Due the handset not being nought in south africa ,it has not undergone our testing procedure,thats why the phone wont function properly.

Please note that we cannot guarantee it will function properly in future, as the handset has not been endorsed on our network,, only when you buy any handset from vodacom and in South Africa will it perform like it supposed to.

Hope you have a Mofaya Day!

Warm regards

Marius Swart
Click to expand...
 
It's probably the Vodacom network, my (Vodacom bought) 3GS have been giving the same No Service message on and off for months rendering the phone practically unusable. It started doing this after my upgrade to 4.3.3 and because it happened 3 weeks out of warranty neither Apple nor Vodacom would do anything except quote me R5k for a new phone.
 
I just tested with a MTN pay as you go card, and it is working perfectly. I am going to cancel my contract with Vodacom. How can they not support the latest state of the art iPhone remains a mystery
 
It is the Vodacom network or else the iOS5 update. All 3 of us with iPhone 4's on the Vodacom network are experiencing the same problem in iOS5. So it's either one or the other, most likely Vodacom if you say MTN is fine.
 
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