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Four times yesterday for me. Twice rebooting helped and twice I had to reinsert the SIM. I'm good since yesterday afternoon. This does not seem like a widespread problem. I'm hopeful that it's got something to do with activation volume at AT&T and not Apple's hardware or software.
 
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/948107/


New SIM=No more issues

I'd say 100% a bad batch of SIM cards.

How sure are you? Like I mention in my post, I DID receive a new SIM with att and it still gave me problem. Unless you are assuming that the bad batch of SIM that was originally in my phone (from China), is also the same bad batch of SIM that my local ATT store is carrying (which is in Florida...).

I'm waiting to see what Apple says about it in couple of days, if they think it's bad SIM, maybe I'll go to a different ATT store to ask for a new SIM.
 
Four times yesterday for me. Twice rebooting helped and twice I had to reinsert the SIM. I'm good since yesterday afternoon. This does not seem like a widespread problem. I'm hopeful that it's got something to do with activation volume at AT&T and not Apple's hardware or software.

Ok same problem here, about 20 mins of usage then the no sim error. Called AT&T first they suggested restore after that didnt work they seemed to have no idea on what to do, I told her ive been doing research on macrumors and she said that its probably the sim. So ill be heading to the local AT&T store to get it, BUT I'm almost positive this is a hardware issue which means its the phone so eventually im going to have to get a new iphone....I hope it doesnt come to that. Ill let everyone know how it goes. cross your fingers...:(
 
I had the NO SIM message last year for a week..Got a new SIM at the ATT store and seemed to never happen again.
 
I am going to replace my SIM at the AT&T store today. If I do not post again to this thread that means my problem went away.
 
I've gotten the error twice now. I'm a bit aggravated that I'm going to have to start carrying a paperclip with me for when this occurs because I know I likely won't be able to trade it in for a while...
 
I've gotten the error twice now. I'm a bit aggravated that I'm going to have to start carrying a paperclip with me for when this occurs because I know I likely won't be able to trade it in for a while...

Replace the SIM. Read my posts, it fixes the problem.
 
Replace the SIM. Read my posts, it fixes the problem.

I did:

I got the iPhone 4 yesterday and this started happening to me. Ended up taking it to an AT&T store and had them switch out the sim. Ended up not having service for 30 minutes and the error popped up again prior to getting service so I restarted the phone one last time and had service when it popped back up and haven't had the error since. Hopefully that resolved the issue for good!
 
Oops my bad. Yeah I switched out the SIM and never had the problem again. 5 times in one day to none with heavy use the entire next day and night.


Possibly another bad SIM? It's not like the SIM is a high quality part, there probably are a lot of bunk SIM cards out there.
 
Okay, following my new post from yesterday. I was able to drop off the phone at local UPS and have it ship out overnight. Just got off the phone with Apple again, for some reason Apple email me with 3 sets of tracking number this morning. At first I was hoping since the phone is new and it was already have problem they would just send a new one out right after they had receive the "broken iPhone 4". But guess not, they are sending a new sets of usb cable, power adaptor, and ear phone to me.

I ask the Apple advisor what is the meaning of this? What the hell is the point sending me parts that I'm not having problem with? They even told me that Apple is requesting my power adaptor back, WTF now I have to do more extra work to schedule an appointment with FedEx so I can send a perfectly working power adaptor back when my problem is with the iPhone 4?

So, in the end it looks like my phone is still over at the "testing" department, doing whatever they do. I won't be surprise if they come up with "no-issue" and just send it back to me. BTW, I still don't really believe it's all problem with the SIM card, because I took off the SIM that I was using in the iPhone put it inside a regular phone and it's been working perfectly fine ever since it's in there...yes, some might actually have a bad SIM, and I know SIM card isn't something that's very complicate to make, but I also don't think they fail that easily. I will keep you guys update with whatever info I get from Apple. However, after all this I believe this is my last iPhone as well as my last couple years with ATT(had enough with random drop calls, and bad signal).
 
Gizmodo mentioned the SIM problem here but they just mentioned it's the SIM card but to replace the phone? I wish it were just the SIM card...

http://gizmodo.com/5572947/if-you-have-these-iphone-4-problems-you-should-exchange-your-phone

Same here, at least that's what Apple insisted on. Apple: Oh but I think it's the SIM and ATT's problem. Me: Yes yes, because you Apple can do no wrong. This is my second SIM how many more should go back and ask ATT for before you will admit that it is indeed your damn fault? Especially when two of my friends have been extremely happy with their iPhone 4....
 
I am going to replace my SIM at the AT&T store today. If I do not post again to this thread that means my problem went away.

I am still posting in this thread. 8 hours after new SIM, same failure. So is it hardware or software or network?
 
I am still posting in this thread. 8 hours after new SIM, same failure. So is it hardware or software or network?

I personally concluded it's hardware and Apple have already received my broken iPhone 4. I will keep on coming back to this thread to let you know about my status.
 
I had the same problem. I got my phone yesterday afternoon and immediately had reception problems with holding it in my left hand. This morning I woke up to the No Sim message. Nothing would cure it. I power cycled it several times, and I reseated the sim card. Nothing worked. I finally took it back to apple and I will wait and see how they deal with the problems they have while I use my 3GS. I am so disappointed!!




P.S. Funny - Just noticed I am a newbie, even after two years. Must work off post count???
 
Remind you of another issue?

My wife and I both got the iPhone 4. I had mine shipped to the store (3GS purchased in May - swapped for a 4 for a 10% restocking fee - lucky me). AT&T activated mine in the store without issue. My wife activated hers at home with some glitches. The instructions included in the box stated she had to either activate via the web or call. Her phone already had the message (something like...) "Activation in progress , this may take awhile" or something similar to that. After an hour or so she attempted to activate via the website listed on the instructions. If "failed" with some message about how her number failed to upgrade. She then called 611 from her old phone and it walked her through the activation and told her to turn her phone off for 5 minutes then back on. Once on it was ACTIVE and working fine......UNTIL.

I told you all of that nonsense in the event that it somehow factors into the equation in some fashion. The whole thing seemed hoaky to me from the start. Now she gets the "NO SIM INSTALLED" crap (13 times today at last count). She has to do a reset (power off/on) to recover. I removed her SIM (did not think to look at it in detail) and replaced it. That made no improvement, her phone continued to have the issue. The most frustrating were the 7 calls we attempted that were cut short (and abruptly) with her phone issuing a "NO SIM INSTALLED" message and disconnecting the call.

Now, the point of my title "Remind you of another issue?" is this. Did any of you experience the joys of OS 3.1.1 (I believe that was the one) where your phone would go into what was later called "sleep mode"? It was where your phone would just "go to sleep". It was "on" but the screen was black and would not respond until you held down the power and home keys for several seconds. As a matter of fact, if you held those keys down just for a few seconds you would here the camera "CLICK". And when the camera was reset, you would see the picture of a black screen in your photos. This issue when on for weeks with 10's of thousands of people screaming at Apple for a fix. My pleasant experience with the "genius" at an Apple store had me leaving with my blood boiling. They claimed the reason my phone went into "sleep mode" was due to "WATER DAMAGE"! I could have choked the p*ss out of that guy. Then, like magic Apple releases the next release 3.1.2 (I believe) and included in the "bug fixes" was the phenomenon known as SLEEP MODE! In other words, they denied it existed for WEEKS, then released the fix. And from that day forward my issues were resolved. Fast forward to today, I feel the same sort of deny, play ignorant, blame AT&T SIM cards, etc. will be the norm until sometime in the (hopefully near) future Apple will have a fix and we are all happy little iPhone users once again.

To sum it up, I am REALLY p*ssed off and plan on demanding one of three things upon my visit to AT&T in the morning. 1) a new SIM and the problem goes away (doubt it with happen) 2) a new phone (doubt it - where are they going to get one?) 3) full refund. I will buy another in the future once the bugs are worked out.

Thanks for reading this mess. I hope you are relieved that at least if nothing else you have a friend that is just as angry as you that this sort of crap always happens to them. :mad:
 
When I returned mine I got a full refund. When I brought it in the store it was stuck on the No Sim and they didn't even question a full refund. They did ask if I wanted to try another sim card and by then I was just done with the whole thing. I don't think there would be a problem with a full refund if it is brought in with the No Sim message showing as that would be proof that it is clearly a defect.
 
Same problem here in Germany!

Picked my iPhone 4 up on Thursday Mmorning at T.Molbile (our official iPhone carrier in Germany) and had the same problem happening to me a few times. Went back to pick up a new MicroSim and it was good for a few hours. But now it is back and worse than ever.

Also no chance to use my old 3G because of the micro sim (and tmobile dies not have adapters...

I think it is a hardware fault as I have fond at least 5 more users on a germany forum with the same problem. So definitely not a AT&T odr carrier problem...
 
We made an appointment at the genius bar & they gave my girlfriend a new phone. All is well now! (Well.. minus the reception thing....)
 
I am having the same problem, it will either say "no sim" or "sim failure". I have noticed another issue and I'm not sure if it's related or not but my phone will rattle if you shake it sounds like something is loose inside. I took the sim card and tray out and it still rattles so it's not that. Has anyone else with the sim problem also noticed this?
 
The rattle is most likely the on/off button. Hold your finger on it and shake the phone again. It should not rattle any more...
 
Well I got my phone on 24th, since then to 25th 7pm, It gave me "no sim card inserted" error 7 times. Everytime, I take the sim out and put it back on and that solved the problem temp. So I was annoyed by this and went to the apple genius. He tells me to replicate this problem. You know when u have a faulty product and when u want to show it to the person, it never works. I could not replicate it. But, while I was there, I did "reset all settings" and since then I haven't had sim card failure. *keeping my fingers crossed*
 
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