iPhone dropping calls in 3G mode (Problem and Resolution)

[Just1BadApple]

Background: My wife and I have 3G iPhones but don't live in a 3G service area, so our phones normally work on the Edge network.

This weekend we drove up to Washington DC and entered the 3G service territory (as indicated by the '3G' displayed on the phone). My wife used her iPhone to make a call but the call was dropped after a few seconds. She called again and again the call was dropped. She then used my iPhone and it worked fine. Once at our relatives house, I tried a series of experiments. Her iPhone wouldn't maintain a connection more than a few seconds, while mine worked fine. If I switched her phone to disable 3G, her phone worked fine again (just not on 3G, of course).

Since we were planing to visit an Apple store anyway, I made a Genius appt to have them look at it. He listened to our symptoms and diagnosed it as a bad SIM card and referred us to the AT&T store in the mall to replace it. I was skeptical but suggested we swap SIM cards between my iPhone and my wifes'. Sure enough, the problem moved to my phone, and returned to her phone when we switched them back.

So, off we went to the AT&T store. They replaced my wife's SIM card and it's been fine since.

 

[DaveTheGrey]

this kind of information is very appreciated. thanks

 

[MacSKY]

Thank you very much for this information! I live in an EDGE area, however, I frequently work in 3G areas and almost every call that I make in 3G areas is dropped. I have noticed that it seems to happen most when I'm teetering on the edge of the EDGE network and the 3G networks. I'm a HUGE iPhone fan, but if the SIM card exchange doesn't correct this, it's back to Verizon and possibly a BB, which I'm not wanting to do at all! But a phone that works is much more important to me than a phone with a fantastic UI and great apps!

 

[Johnner1999]

Thank you very much for this information! I live in an EDGE area, however, I frequently work in 3G areas and almost every call that I make in 3G areas is dropped. I have noticed that it seems to happen most when I'm teetering on the edge of the EDGE network and the 3G networks. I'm a HUGE iPhone fan, but if the SIM card exchange doesn't correct this, it's back to Verizon and possibly a BB, which I'm not wanting to do at all! But a phone that works is much more important to me than a phone with a fantastic UI and great apps!

I agree - both me and wife have a 3G iPhone... same issues with dropped calls or should I say call failed per the screen.

Swapped a few SIM cards and even whole phone... same crud.

tonight I'll be stopping at a Verizon store for two dares; and I'll buy a Touch.

hurts me as we both LOVE the iPhone and Apple BUT between that and calls going stright to voicemail its hard to have faith in the phone if its really needed

any thoughts

John

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Excellent information to know. Thank you for sharing it with us!

 

[billybaroo]

Iphone problems

I absolutely loved my Iphone, but I had a similar problem. My phone constantly dropped calls at home and at work.. The thing is my friend's ATT BB worked just fine and could make calls at the same time I was dropping..

Sucks, but I had to go back and get a different phone.. I hope they fix this problem..