Mega Frustrating: Cannot read sim card/restore error

[wonderbutt]

Hi guys
Tonight I had a convo cut short as the iPhone battery needed to be recharged (I did get a %10 battery power left" message.

So, I get home, plug into iTunes and get a this:

USB cable to iTunes in background, and message says:
Restore Needed

Iphone cannot send or receive calls. Restore from iTunes.
www.apple.com/support

Great. I have no idea why this idiotic message comes up. So I connect to iTunes again, and the error message on iTunes says: iTunes cannot activate your iPhone because it cannot find my sim card or a SIM PIN is required.
Disconnect your iPhone, make sure the SIM is inserted correctly, tap unlock BLAH BLAH..

I have NO SIM PIN.
I cannot restore as the guys at Apple.com/support suggest because the SIM Card cannot be found.
I have NOT unlocked this iPhone.
I am very angry, and am close to smashing it into the wall.
Any ideas as to hat is going on?


iTunes 8.1.1
IPhone 3G 16gb 2.2.1 firmware

 

[Moi un Mouton]

Try popping the SIM card out, give it a gentle wipe, and pop it back in.

 

[yhwhechad]

stuck

i am having the exact samn problem it wont do anything and ive tried everything please someone help

im on 3g 8gb 3.1.2

 

[Shadow2k]

I had the same error about 2 months ago. The phone suddenly showed "iPhone cannot send or receive calls. Restore from iTunes" while driving home (even the GPS chip stopped to work ).
I wasn't able to restore it via itunes, nor did it work after doing a DFU reset. In the end I had to call Apple and they replaced the phone.

(If I remember correctly, there should be small info button that is supposed to show you some info about the the phone/sim. In my case all fields were empty)

Edit: iPhone 3G, 16GB

 

[rtztgue]

Same problem here. Just called iphone tech support and they claim it is a hardware issue. Luckily my phone is under warranty so I am sending it in.

3g 8gb 3.1.2