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iphone3DG3

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 23, 2009
69
0
NorCal!
I've had my iPhone problem-free for a very long time already, until today. I try to listen to my voicemail, and I get this really weird text message (pictures are attached). The thing is that every time I listen to my voicemail, a text comes up every single time. I check my text message usage but strangely, no text has been recorded being received by my carrier. I plug my SIM card into another cell phone, and I didn't experience any of this. The even more bizarre thing is that this text is sent on September 4, 2012, which hasn't even happened yet. What is wrong with the phone? Is this a bug on the phone or something? Thanks!
 

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I'm having the exact same issue as of this morning, except my blank text messages are coming from "@." But they're also dated Sept. 4, 2012.

Glad it's not just me...but what the heck is it? And is T-Mobile going to charge for these texts?! (I don't have a texting plan.)

ETA: Also, I can no longer get rid of the VM notification dot that shows up after rebooting, even after calling VM. That's also a new issue. Sounds like T-Mobile may have changed something in their system...
 
I'm having the exact same issue as of this morning, except my blank text messages are coming from "@." But they're also dated Sept. 4, 2012.

Glad it's not just me...but what the heck is it? And is T-Mobile going to charge for these texts?! (I don't have a texting plan.)

ETA: Also, I can no longer get rid of the VM notification dot that shows up after rebooting, even after calling VM. That's also a new issue. Sounds like T-Mobile may have changed something in their system...

Yeah, I'm glad I'm not the only one like this too. I'm not sure if this is a glitch in the phone itself or T-Mobile's fault. The thing is that I plugged in my SIM card to another phone provided by T-Mobile, and I received no texts when checking my voicemail. Hmm...not sure what's going on. I don't have a texting plan either, but when I check my usage of texts, T-Mobile did not register me as having received any texts. And yep, that red notification dot isn't disappearing for me either. :confused:
 
I am having the exact same problem

It just started today... Anyone have any updates on this? I am in Texas so its obviously affecting everywhere....
 
oh and the date on mine is...

December 31, 1969 at 17:59 bizarre

Edit: i just got the September 4, 2012 that you guys got... and my messages come from no one. I dont have a letter or number or anything. Very strange....
 
December 31, 1969 at 17:59 bizarre

Edit: i just got the September 4, 2012 that you guys got... and my messages come from no one. I dont have a letter or number or anything. Very strange....

Are you on T=Mobile? If so, sounds like it may be a T-Mobile issue.

Also, isn't 2012 the year that the Mayan calendar predicts the Apocalypse?
 
i am on Tmobile

but the question is... is this happening to every person with an unlocked Iphone on Tmobile's service... if so there has to be some solution to this... real annoying im tell you...
 
but the question is... is this happening to every person with an unlocked Iphone on Tmobile's service... if so there has to be some solution to this... real annoying im tell you...

Yeah, it seems that only T-Mobile USA iPhone users are experiencing this. I'm in California and as of right now (3:03 PM Pacific Time), I am still experiencing this issue. Hopefully this glitch would be fixed ASAP; it is kinda annoying.
 
i agree...

im in texas and its 5:09pm here and i've been experiencing it all day... Its actually really pissing me off... luckily though it doesnt look like we are getting charged for text messages... if that happens then i am going to have to call tmobile...
 
just found this thread

i also have an unlocked iphone, service with T-mobile, and I have been getting two text messaged ALL DAY!!!

both are blank

one is December 31 1969

the other is September 4, 2012

like others said, it must be a T-mobile issue or VM problem. Red dot will not go away either

they are out to get us iphoners

Im in South Carolina
 
Also, when I try to hit "Call" in the SMS app for the weird text from nobody, the phone freezes for a few seconds, and then that spinning pinwheel appears, (like the one when you turn your phone off), and it sent me directly to the phone's Safe Mode. This bug is creepy and annoying at the same time.
 
I just got off the phone with T-Mobile.

they are saying as of today. "The network sends a notification from the tower to the phone to send a v-mail notification and then when you check your voice mail it sends another notification to your phone and then it would say on your iPhone that you no longer have a new vmail. but because of the fact thats its not a TMOBILE PHONE that the signal is sent differently to there exclusive phones. So not only the iPhone will be affected other unlocked phones will have similar problems. She told as well this is a new problem they found out about today This morning. They ssaid to wait as least 48 more hours before they have an answer. I got my hands on the ATT WIRELESS # soon!.. hope this helps...

-VisaNick :apple:
 
Thought I would just sign up for this to say that the same thing happened to me tonight. I got super freaked out when I saw the date and after googling this problem, I'm sooo relieved to say that I'm glad it's not just happening to me.

I'm a T-Mobile user on an unlocked iPhone, and I'm in Missouri. Glad to also see that it's not just local.

However, I'm not getting the little L shape or @. I'm actually getting an exclamation point every time it happens. It only happened to me once tonight and I got the text just saying ! when I first receive it. Blank number, and then blank text when I go into my actual SMS. It was from Dec. 31, 1969 at 5:59pm too.

After reading a bunch of threads about the whole voicemail thing, I decided to try it (mind you I had to have my lights on otherwise I probably would have peed my pants hahaha). And sure enough, I got another ! text, only this time from Sept. 4, 2012 at 7:04pm (mind you again that this year freaks me out more than anything possible....). And the little red dot won't go away.


<B>I'd like to know if anyone had actual phone problems later after receiving these texts. I got mine early in the evening and by midnight actually my phone lost service. I tried resetting it several times, and popping my SIM in and out too. I think it was eventually back on around 1am now that I think about it. So it lasted for about an hour (makes sense). My vibrate function even went out for a few minutes after I got service back (and just so everyone knows, this is a BRAND new iPhone that I got only a month ago).


Anyway, that was probably way more than I needed to say, but that's just what happened to me. I hope it'll be fixed soon though. It's really freaky. Let me know though if any of your phones had problems. I'd like to know that's not just mine either :/
 
UPDATE:
I just spoke with T-mobile. Apparently they have been making updates to their software in the T-mobile system over the past few weeks. Part of the updates they did were to the speed up the internet on the network, but in the process they screwed up the voicemail notifier settings. They told me it is not a priority to fix it since the problem is only happening on phones they do not currently offer. I reminded them that there are many of us loyal customers out there that decided to stay with t-mobile and spend $$ on unlocked iphones instead of making the switch to AT&T and that they should try to fix the bug to avoid losing us. They said to give it a week and they will be making improvements to the software on their end.

The only solution for the time being is to have T-mobile disable the voicemail notification. In this case you will no longer receive any text messages or a dot indicator when you receive a voicemail. **I do suggest for everyone having the same problem to call T-mobile and remind them you are a loyal customer and would appreciate them fixing the bug. If they receive enough of us complaining about the same issue I am sure they will be more willing to fix the problem quicker. **
 
I agree with Rosco

I mean we need to make sure it is a priority. Some of us use these iphones for business. I am like most of you and love T-Mobile and did not want to switch over to AT&T. We need to stay on them to fix this bug.
 
It is for business!

I mean we need to make sure it is a priority. Some of us use these iphones for business. I am like most of you and love T-Mobile and did not want to switch over to AT&T. We need to stay on them to fix this bug.


Im going to call everyday till its fixed..

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

-VisaNick :apple:
 
RE: To the ATT Sales Rep.

Or, you could just use AT&T on the iPhone and not have these problems.

Why do you use T-Mobile? Is it because it saves you $5 a month?


T-Mobile rocks over AT&T plus I am out of contract. they treat me like GOLD.

and its $30.00 a month less for there services.

So you can have your AT&T :)

-VisaNick :apple:
 
Tmobile has way better service

I have never been on hold with Tmobile and I have never had to wait more than 3 minutes to speak to a representative. I stay with T-Mobile solely b/c of the customer service. and I pay $120 for 3 phone lines. a tmobile g1 with a $35 data plan a 1000 min family plan and a home phone and 400 text messages for me...

or I can just switch to AT&T and pay $120 for one phone line...
 
T-Mobile rocks over AT&T plus I am out of contract. they treat me like GOLD.

and its $30.00 a month less for there services.

So you can have your AT&T :)

-VisaNick :apple:[/FONT]

Now that you put it in BOLD, I can totally understand your point.

Without a doubt, AT&T has better coverage. Maybe not in your particular area, but across the nation, AT&T blows away T-Mobile.

As far as voice plan pricing, here is what I found from both company's websites:

AT&T: 900 minutes @ $59.99;
T-Mobile: 1000 minutes @ $49.99

So, you may save $10 and have an extra 100 minutes with T-Mobile. However, with free carrier-to-carrier calls for both plans, the better deal may lean towards AT&T since they have a significantly higher customer base (which means more free calls). All of my friends have iPhones, so it is free to call them because they are on AT&T.

As far as data, I did not easily find that information on T-Mobile's website. I do know that I pay AT&T $20 per month for unlimited data and 200 text messages. Mind you, I have the original iPhone (not 3G). I am assuming that you have the original iPhone too because the 3G does not work properly with T-Mobile yet, right? (I have been out of the jailbreaking/unlocking seen for a while, so I am guessing that there is still no unlock for T-Mobile and 3G. Please correct me if I am wrong). So, what do you pay for data with T-Mobile? AT&T customers also have access to all of their WiFi hotpsots (most of which they stole away from T-Mobile when they struck a partnership with Starbucks).

So, to get from that $10 savings in voice plan to the $30 total monthly savings that you are referring to, I assume that T-Mobile gives you free data and free 200 text messages. Is that how you get the $30 in total savings?

I am not a salesperson for AT&T. I just don't get why T-Mobile is so much better (and keep in mind that I used to be a T-Mobile customer).

Most importantly, my AT&T iPhone works fine and yours doesn't. As far as their customer service, I am under contract and still treated like GOLD.
 
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