iphone eating credit! Help!

[davadada]

hey,

Just wondering if someone can help me out on this one.

bought an iphone 2G recently, second hand. Have jailbroken and updated firmware to 3.0 and of course its also unlocked.

I use a Pay-as-you-go sim, in germany with 02. Last night i bought €30 credit, managed to send a couple of SMS (literally 2) and now this morning the credit is gone! I didnt even use the top-up card to call!

The previous owner of the phone, i believe, also used a Pay-as-you-go sim but they never mentioned this credit draining problem. Mind you, they only had firmware 1.1.4 installed so im wondering if the 3.0 firmware has new settings which I need to change in order to save my credit vanishing!?

Is there something i'm doing wrong, does 3.0 automatically try to connect to the internet all the time, im quite lost! how can i preserve the money i put on my phone?

I'm quite new to the whole iphone game,

if someone could help :confused:

[davadada]

the internet works fine via wi-fi when i dont have credit, so wondering what my credit getting eaten by?

[SpaceKitty]

Since you are jailbroken, go into Cydia and install SBSettings. In SBSettings, turn off edge. This will allow the iPhone to still make calls but will turn off data for any apps that use it while the phone is sleeping.

When the iPhone sleeps, WiFi turns off after so long and this is why you are getting charged. Some of the apps still access the internet when sleeping such as email and push as well as notifications.

[superflush]

Since you are jailbroken, go into Cydia and install SBSettings. In SBSettings, turn off edge. This will allow the iPhone to still make calls but will turn off data for any apps that use it while the phone is sleeping.


+1 for this. I had an Italian SIM card when I lived in Italy, and I went to Spain for about a week. I only used the internet when I had WiFi and the WiFi signal showed. Sure enough, I was actually using EDGE part of the time, and my Italian SIM actually went into a negative balance. This was when I was on 1.0.2 (before they made an option to have "turn off data when roaming" as a setting).

Needless to say SBSettings is an excellent tool, and you can turn of EDGE from that. If you are not on an unlimited data plan, and only plan to use EDGE occasionally, then you should keep it toggled off most of the time, and then just toggle it on when you want to use it.

[superflush]

I use a Pay-as-you-go sim, in germany with 02. Last night i bought €30 credit, managed to send a couple of SMS (literally 2) and now this morning the credit is gone! I didnt even use the top-up card to call!

I'm sure its possible for you to go online and check out what exactly used up your credit, right? If so, I'd do that, just to see if it was internet use or something else.

[davadada]

ok,

i just realised im on 3.0.1 firmware. Which doesn't support sbsettings so i hear. Am i right?

Does this mean there is no way i can use my pay-as-you-go sim with 3.0.1 firmware?

Do i then have to downgrade to 3.0 in order to stop this credit eating problem?

[superflush]

i just realised im on 3.0.1 firmware. Which doesn't support sbsettings so i hear. Am i right?

No, you can use SBSettings with 3.0.1 ... I'm using it right now.

[davadada]

Thanks for your help so far

right, so checked my account on 02. It says i didnt used any credit, but its definitely gone. It does show that throughout the night every 15-20 mins the phone is doing something, and thats about 25 times throughout the nnight. So i'm thinking its definitely the internet. But i'm always connected to wifi here at home and can't imagine why its doing this. So its probably the apps like you said.
Still, installed SBsettings on this but still can't locate it! Any ideas where i can find Sbsettings?

[SpaceKitty]

Thanks for your help so far

right, so checked my account on 02. It says i didnt used any credit, but its definitely gone. It does show that throughout the night every 15-20 mins the phone is doing something, and thats about 25 times throughout the nnight. So i'm thinking its definitely the internet. But i'm always connected to wifi here at home and can't imagine why its doing this. So its probably the apps like you said.
Still, installed SBsettings on this but still can't locate it! Any ideas where i can find Sbsettings?

Swipe your finger across the top of the screen and SBSettings will drop down. This allows you to open it when any app is open at anytime.

[superflush]

It does show that throughout the night every 15-20 mins the phone is doing something, and thats about 25 times throughout the night. So i'm thinking its definitely the internet.

Ha, O2 online said it was doing something, but didn't specify if it was data/internet/edge ..??

But i'm always connected to wifi here at home and can't imagine why its doing this.

See thats the thing though, that I've learned, that even if you are connected to WiFi, you could actually be using edge or 3g.

Still, installed SBsettings on this but still can't locate it! Any ideas where i can find Sbsettings?

Oh, just swipe your finger along the top:
http://theappleblog.com/2009/06/22/sbsettings-why-i-still-jailbreak-with-3-0/

[SpaceKitty]

Ha, O2 online said it was doing something, but didn't specify if it was data/internet/edge ..??



See thats the thing though, that I've learned, that even if you are connected to WiFi, you could actually be using edge or 3g.



Oh, just swipe your finger along the top:
http://theappleblog.com/2009/06/22/sbsettings-why-i-still-jailbreak-with-3-0/

Again, WiFi shuts off after so long after the iPhone is sleeping. It will not turn on again till the iPhone is used meaning, you turn it on to do something. You will notice that when you turn it on after it's been sleeping for say an hour, there is no WiFi indicator at the top until after a few seconds, once it connects to your WiFi again.

[superflush]

Btw, did Apple get rid of the ability to go into Network settings and change your APN info???
Which, would mean that using SBSettings is the only way to actually turn off the mobile provider's internet (in the home country of the iPhone) ??

[SpaceKitty]

Btw, did Apple get rid of the ability to go into Network settings and change your APN info???
Which, would mean that using SBSettings is the only way to actually turn off the mobile provider's internet (in the home country of the iPhone) ??

Yes they did with 3.0. They want to discourage people from using non approved sims in the iPhone.

I used something called the iPhone Configuration Utility (http://support.apple.com/downloads/iPhone_Configuration_Utility_2_0_for_Mac_OS_X) that allows you to make different profiles on your phone. You can have one for an AT&T GoPhone sim, one for T-Mobile and then switch between them on the phone.

[davadada]

no its still possible to change the APN settings but seriously, as i said before, i am still a newbie to the iphone so you will have to bear with me. Do i need ti change the apn settings?

the 02 online didn't say what it was using, nope.

I've found SB settings, what a strange place to put them. i noticed 3g was on, Edge was off.

Is there anything else i should keep switched off if i want to retain my phone credit?! I just want to make calls, SMS, and use wifi. I dont even know if i can use edge or 3g, i haven't tried using the internet any other way than through the wifi. AS i have a 2g phone i didn't think it was possible any other way.
as i said before, i am still a newbie to the iphone so you will have to bear with me.
as i said before, i am still a newbie to the iphone so you will have to bear with me.
as i said before, i am still a newbie to the iphone so you will have to bear with me.
as i said before, i am still a newbie to the iphone so you will have to bear with me. :)

the more help the better. :D

[superflush]

Is there anything else i should keep switched off if i want to retain my phone credit?! I just want to make calls, SMS, and use wifi. I dont even know if i can use edge or 3g, i haven't tried using the internet any other way than through the wifi. AS i have a 2g phone i didn't think it was possible any other way.

Just turn off edge & 3g

[SpaceKitty]

Just turn off edge & 3g

Actually, you don't need to turn off 3G. The iPhone can use 3G network to make calls.

Edit...nevermind it's a 2G iPhone.

[superflush]

Yes they did with 3.0. They want to discourage people from using non approved sims in the iPhone.

I used something called the iPhone Configuration Utility (http://support.apple.com/downloads/iPhone_Configuration_Utility_2_0_for_Mac_OS_X) that allows you to make different profiles on your phone. You can have one for an AT&T GoPhone sim, one for T-Mobile and then switch between them on the phone.


Hm, that wasn't nice of them. That makes it harder to get on the internet with different SIMs. I took a look in Cydia, and there are some APN editing packages. Additionally, for some carriers they have 'carrier bundles' which looks like it takes care of it for you.

Whats the deal with the iPhone Configuration Utility. Thats just on the desktop. And that is something that Apple put out. Seems really odd, since they are trying to block you from doing this on the iPhone itself.

[SpaceKitty]

.

Whats the deal with the iPhone Configuration Utility. Thats just on the desktop. And that is something that Apple put out. Seems really odd, since they are trying to block you from doing this on the iPhone itself.

Apple giveth....yet they forget when they take away. :D

[davadada]

so now i can go and buy another pay-as-you-go card and safetly use my phone without feeling terrorized?

Are you sure?

[SpaceKitty]

so now i can go and buy another pay-as-you-go card and safetly use my phone without feeling terrorized?

Are you sure?

Yes, as long as you know the correct APN settings.

[davadada]

what, what are APN settings? How would i find the right ones, what are the wrong ones? Explain if you wouldn't mind

[Diseal3]

Why not call to find out where your credit went. Most carriers dont give a **** if ure using unsupported phones as you did choose their network in the end. :D

[SpaceKitty]

what, what are APN settings? How would i find the right ones, what are the wrong ones? Explain if you wouldn't mind

Access Point Name (APN): wap.cingular
Access Point User Name: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Access Point Password: CINGULAR1

These are what you would use for AT&T. Each carrier has their own including T-Mobile. A search will find them.

[superflush]

so now i can go and buy another pay-as-you-go card and safetly use my phone without feeling terrorized?

Are you sure?

Ha, I don't think you were terrorized. I think you just used up th credit by your iPhone accessing the internet to check your mail. Just keep the edge/3g off and you'll be fine.
If you're happy with O2, I'd just stick with them. It might not be worth the hassle of switching.

[SpaceKitty]

If you go to this link on your iPhone:

http://www.unlockit.co.nz/#_Custom

There are ready made APN cinfigurations. All you do is select your carrier, it fills in the APN details and then uploads them to the iPhone.

[davadada]

thanks but 02 Germany is not listed.

I dont think 02 germany has proper APN settings.

i just found this http://dalong.de/apn_germany.htm

[superflush]

thanks but 02 Germany is not listed.

I dont think 02 germany has proper APN settings.

i just found this http://dalong.de/apn_germany.htm

But you already have the correct O2 APN settings if it is connecting to the internet just fine.

[davadada]

ok,

i contacted 02 germany yesterday, told them my problem, they said it was internet usage which my credit was lost on. So they gave me €5 credit for free.

So edge, 3g and location was turned off last night. But i woke u ptoday to find that the €5 was gone! So why is this happening?

Is there some other application which is forcing me onto the internet whilst im asleep? Is there something else like 3g, edge, which automatically tries to connect to the internet without me knowing?

THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING! I just want to be able to use my credit when i want to, not when it wants to.

please help

[SpaceKitty]

ok,

i contacted 02 germany yesterday, told them my problem, they said it was internet usage which my credit was lost on. So they gave me €5 credit for free.

So edge, 3g and location was turned off last night. But i woke u ptoday to find that the €5 was gone! So why is this happening?

Is there some other application which is forcing me onto the internet whilst im asleep? Is there something else like 3g, edge, which automatically tries to connect to the internet without me knowing?

THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING! I just want to be able to use my credit when i want to, not when it wants to.

please help

There is no way that you have turned edge off then. With edge turned off, the iPhone can't access the internet for anything.

Go back into SBSettings and make sure the button color for edge is red, not green. If it's green, press it and make sure it turns red.

[davadada]

edge is definitely red, not green. As i write this, i just turned off wifi to check if it tries to connect to edge, and as usual, i'm getting my 02 notification that my credit is nearly empty.

so edge is defo off! Unless there's another application like SbSettings which forces it on!??????

[davadada]

p.s- SSH or Processes has nothing to do with this?

[SpaceKitty]

p.s- SSH or Processes has nothing to do with this?

I doubt ssh has anything to do with it.

I'm not sure what else to suggest other than turning on airplane mode but then people can't call you.

My 2G iPhone has an AT&T pay as you go sim in it and I only have edge turned off. I haven't used the phone for an actual call in about a week and my balance hasn't dropped a bit in the week.

Maybe someone else has another idea.

[davadada]

yes someone else must have an idea.

is this to do with my configuration, anything to do with my setup with itunes?

I also wonder why the little circle next to the service provider at the top of the screen, changes between white and blue from time to time, when wi-fi is off?

[mkjj]

This happened to my wife's 2G iPhone and turned out to be a Google mail account I had set up for her. Even though it was switched off and set to manual check additional charges appeared on her account.

I deleted the email account and charges stopped!

[instaxgirl]

OP the foolproof thing to do is to change your APN settings to a load of rubbish. I also have a 2G phone and have found that SBSettings can sometimes reset, which is a pain. I usually just add the word "no" to the end of one of the lines in my APN settings then I can get on if I need to but otherwise my phone CANNOT access my carrier's data network.

[davadada]

This happened to my wife's 2G iPhone and turned out to be a Google mail account I had set up for her. Even though it was switched off and set to manual check additional charges appeared on her account.

I deleted the email account and charges stopped!

really? So having a gmail account synced with mail app brought charges?

I can't imagine it being that, everybody uses a gmail account! Is there a way to turn mail off then? I'm really unsure this is the prob

[macbookhamburg]

the little circle is gprs... when no edge connection is available.. te phone uses gprs (and therefore data) but this sounds really weird because I used an iPhone with O2 and after getting the right apn settings I nerver had problems...

plus if you are on the regular prepaid it only is 0,09 cent the minute of data usage... so if the 5 euro were gone you used about 55 minutes of data ?
that seemsreally weird ...

[macbookhamburg]

with an iphone you should get a data pack anyways ... with o2 it would only be 10 euro a month

http://portal.o2online.de/nw/tarife/prepaid/index.html?nidx=2&partnerId=smkol0000000100

with that you would have no problems anymore

[davadada]

the little circle is gprs... when no edge connection is available.. te phone uses gprs (and therefore data) but this sounds really weird because I used an iPhone with O2 and after getting the right apn settings I nerver had problems...

plus if you are on the regular prepaid it only is 0,09 cent the minute of data usage... so if the 5 euro were gone you used about 55 minutes of data ?
that seemsreally weird ...

so what are the right APN settings for O2 germany? I looked but couldn't find them!

[macbookhamburg]

google is so amazing ....

just typed in: o2 apn einstellungen

and magically this link appeared on top of the search entries ;-)

http://www.o2online.de/nw/support/mobilfunk/surfmobil/apn/index.html

Name: o2 Internet
APN : Internet

[davadada]

google is so amazing ....

just typed in: o2 apn einstellungen

and magically this link appeared on top of the search entries ;-)

http://www.o2online.de/nw/support/mobilfunk/surfmobil/apn/index.html

Name: o2 Internet
APN : Internet

Ok, so i looked again mit die apn einstellungen. Here i found another site, i'm actually on a 02-loop package, but its not really a package just enables me to cheaper calling when i buy bulk amounts of topup credit.

So am i right (my germans not amazingly perfect) that i would need the 02 loop apn instead?

found it here but copy n pasted for you http://www.areamobile.de/static/zugang/o2.php


für Prepaid-Kunden mit O2 LOOP

MMS-Einstellungen
Name (Profilname): o2 LOOP MMS
Datenträger: GPRS
APN (Zugangspunkt): pwap.viaginterkom.de
Benutzername: nicht notwendig
Password: nicht notwendig
Gültigkeitsdauer: Maximum
Lesemeldung: aus
Zustellbericht: aus
Auto-Löschen: aus
Auto-Herunterladen: ein
Nachrichtenserver /
Startseite /
Homepage: http://10.81.0.7:8002
Wap-Profil: o2 LOOP GPRS



WAP GPRS-Einstellungen

Name (Profilname): o2 LOOP GPRS
APN (Zugangspunkt): pwap.interkom.de
Benutzername: nicht notwendig
Password: nicht notwendig
IP- / Proxyadresse /
Gateway-Server: 195.182.114.114
IP- / Proxy- / Gateway-Port: für WAP 1.x: 9201, für WAP 2.0: 8080
Verbindungssicherheit: aus
Startseite: http://wap.o2active.de

[superflush]

OP the foolproof thing to do is to change your APN settings to a load of rubbish. I also have a 2G phone and have found that SBSettings can sometimes reset, which is a pain. I usually just add the word "no" to the end of one of the lines in my APN settings then I can get on if I need to but otherwise my phone CANNOT access my carrier's data network.

I second this. Back in the day when the iPhone let you natively edit APN settings, that is what I would do to make sure it wasn't using the net, I would make it rubbish ... the APN settings, that is.

Did you find out if it was the internet again that made you lose this €5 of aktuelle gutaban ?

[macbookhamburg]

I second this. Back in the day when the iPhone let you natively edit APN settings, that is what I would do to make sure it wasn't using the net, I would make it rubbish ... the APN settings, that is.

Did you find out if it was the internet again that made you lose this €5 of aktuelle gutaban ?

True you can always do that ... ! About the settings for loop... I didn´t even know that loop exists anymore... the name I the Apn is the old company name too so I don´t know about that....

[superflush]

True you can always do that ... ! About the settings for loop... I didn´t even know that loop exists anymore... the name I the Apn is the old company name too so I don´t know about that....

I know that in the US the APN settings would always be old companies too. It may have changed since then, but voicestream used to be the t-mobile settings and cingular used to be the at&t settings, even when the actual companies were the latter.

[davadada]

I second this. Back in the day when the iPhone let you natively edit APN settings, that is what I would do to make sure it wasn't using the net, I would make it rubbish ... the APN settings, that is.

Did you find out if it was the internet again that made you lose this €5 of aktuelle gutaban ?


the €5 was again used on the internet yes. I've now changed the apn to have No at the end which will hopefully stop me connecting to the internet.

i do think there is something else tho, which is connecting automatically. I should turn off mail to manually check, perhaps delete all my apps, stop them from updating themselves? Is there a way to stop it updating?

Its annoying i can't go into an O2 store here in germany, i dont think they'll give advice to a jailbroken unlocked iphone user

any other suggestions?

[superflush]

i do think there is something else tho, which is connecting automatically. I should turn off mail to manually check, perhaps delete all my apps, stop them from updating themselves? Is there a way to stop it updating?
/QUOTE]

No, don't do that. It is likely because SBSettings reset at some point, and you connected. If you don't have an internet connection via O2, then you shouldn't be charged for internet. It doesn't matter if you have mail to manual or automatic. I have mail as to check every * mins, but since I don't have the APN setup for my carrier, nor do I actually have a data plan, it won't check over edge, just when I'm on WiFi. And it works just fine.


[QUOTE=davadada;8303209]Its annoying i can't go into an O2 store here in germany, i dont think they'll give advice to a jailbroken unlocked iphone user


Why not, just go in. I don't see why'd the care.

[macbookhamburg]

Why not, just go in. I don't see why'd the care.

They might not know anything but they will definately not care... why would they ?

[instaxgirl]

I second this. Back in the day when the iPhone let you natively edit APN settings, that is what I would do to make sure it wasn't using the net, I would make it rubbish ... the APN settings, that is.

Mine still lets me edit them (I did it this morning to check before I posted). I'm jailbroken though, under what circumstances can't you natively edit them?

I've now changed the apn to have No at the end which will hopefully stop me connecting to the internet.

i do think there is something else tho, which is connecting automatically. I should turn off mail to manually check, perhaps delete all my apps, stop them from updating themselves? Is there a way to stop it updating?

Its annoying i can't go into an O2 store here in germany, i dont think they'll give advice to a jailbroken unlocked iphone user

any other suggestions?

A quick way to check that it can't connect to the internet is just to turn off wifi and open something in safari. After a minute or so it should pop up a box that says 'no cellular data connection' or something similar.

Before I put a data plan on I had the same problem as you. I turned all automatic checks off but my phone was still pulling data. Some people suggested it was the weather app as well as the mail one. It's a pain but changing the APN should have sorted it for you :)

Do O2 sell the iPhone in Germany? If so they might be able to help you, if they don't then they won't support the phone and since it's a problem with the phone rather than with the network they might not have anything helpful to say.

[esadb]

Again, WiFi shuts off after so long after the iPhone is sleeping. It will not turn on again till the iPhone is used meaning, you turn it on to do something. You will notice that when you turn it on after it's been sleeping for say an hour, there is no WiFi indicator at the top until after a few seconds, once it connects to your WiFi again.

disagree with the fact of wifi turning off after so long.. At home i have wifi always. So when i go to bed during the night emails come in and they come in through wifi.. because i dont have a data plan and internet is blocked on the phone. So that said the phone keeps a connection active on wifi constantly.. cause when i wake up in the AM i see the emails.

How else did they come in if wifi disconnects?

[superflush]

Mine still lets me edit them (I did it this morning to check before I posted). I'm jailbroken though, under what circumstances can't you natively edit them?


You used to be able to edit them in Settings > Network.

Now, with the more recent version of the OS, you can't do that.

[superflush]

disagree with the fact of wifi turning off after so long.. At home i have wifi always. So when i go to bed during the night emails come in and they come in through wifi.. because i dont have a data plan and internet is blocked on the phone. So that said the phone keeps a connection active on wifi constantly.. cause when i wake up in the AM i see the emails.

How else did they come in if wifi disconnects?

Yea, I think the same thing goes for me.

[superflush]

Do O2 sell the iPhone in Germany? If so they might be able to help you, if they don't then they won't support the phone and since it's a problem with the phone rather than with the network they might not have anything helpful to say.

No, they don't. Just T-Mobile in Germany.

[instaxgirl]

You used to be able to edit them in Settings > Network.

Now, with the more recent version of the OS, you can't do that.

So 3.0.1? I'm on 3.0 and I can still edit in settings > network. I thought 3.0.1 changed literally nothing but that sms vulnerability?

[superflush]

So 3.0.1? I'm on 3.0 and I can still edit in settings > network. I thought 3.0.1 changed literally nothing but that sms vulnerability?

You can change the APN settings there??

[superflush]

When I go into Setting > General > Network
I have:

Data Roaming (option to automatically turn off data when abroad)

VPN (configuration)
&
Wi-Fi

[iPhone 62S]

If you don't want to connect to the internet, why are you fixing the APN settings? Like a previous poster suggested, the best thing to do is fill your APN settings with crap so it can't connect to the internet at all via the network.

[superflush]

I don't think anyone is fixing their APN settings.
Although now I'm curious is she has the ability to edit the APN settings natively.

[iPhone 62S]

I don't think anyone is fixing their APN settings.
Although now I'm curious is she has the ability to edit the APN settings natively.

The OP was asking for German O2 APN settings if I'm not mistaken.

I think there are Cydia apps that do it.

[macbookhamburg]

there is also this site that lets you configure the apn setting even without jailbreaking


http://www.benm.at/2009/06/13/helpbenmat/

[superflush]

Hi all,

I know its been a while since this thread was around, but I recently got back from travelling around Europe (and swapping SIM cards in and out) and here is my take away:

It seems like the feature that allows you to natively edit the APN is dependent on the SIM card. For some SIM cards it was there under Network, for others it was not

The problem the OP had is kinda tricky, and I had it too when I bought a Movistar SIM in Spain. It seems that some carriers that are carry the iPhone themselves have the correct APN settings already on the SIM, and thus if you buy a prepaid vanilla SIM and put it in your iPhone, you start loosing credit like crazy.

fakeAPN seems to be the best solution (to be used with SBSettings). But even with this, when you put in the new SIM, it will turn fakeAPN off if you had it on. So when you put the new SIM in, you need to turn fakeAPN on right away!!

Turning 3G & EDGE off with SBSettings doesn't work because there are lower data standards besides them that will still be open.

[I-hate-o2]

I have the same problem:
o2 is eating my credit when the iphone goes sleeping. It is impossible to APN settings, as apparently o2 has something that overwrites it.
Seems something stored in the sim. FakeAPN does not help.

Is there any trick or a workaround for this APN issue with o2 germany?
Thanks a lot!

[superflush]

I have the same problem:
o2 is eating my credit when the iphone goes sleeping. It is impossible to APN settings, as apparently o2 has something that overwrites it.
Seems something stored in the sim. FakeAPN does not help.

Is there any trick or a workaround for this APN issue with o2 germany?
Thanks a lot!

FakeAPN usually will help. Maybe you can cancel the per/kb data plan with O2. Just tell them you don't want access to the data plan.