iPhone hell

[crystalriver]

Plugged my 3g into the charger at night, the next morning turned it on and now my 6mo old phone will not make or receive calls!! All other functions work however. Called AT&T and Apple tech, we tried this and that and nothing worked, they told me to take it to the Apple store. Got to the store and the employee looked into the spot where the charger goes and said" this has been under a water the sensor has been tripped, sorry not covered under warranty!! Again it sat on my desk charging overnight. The second sensor on the top however was not tripped!! Called Apple corporate and was told they spent a lot of money on designing/checking these sensors and they work so my phone must have been under a liquid. Does Apple realize they did something that no one else has been able to do? design something that NEVER fails. Now I am stuck with 18mo contract or it all could be easily resolved if I pay full price for a new 3g. Why would someone want to to this with the possibility of it happening again? Or maybe I have gremlins who played a joke on me.

[ReyZero]

Have you tried a restore, since the only problem seems to be with the phone section

[crystalriver]

Yes, no software fixes worked, it is a hardware problem

[anypats]

Are you 100% sure that you never got it wet? Those sensors are not electronic, they are pieces of paper that turn from white to pink after being hit with water. They are not likely just going to turn pink for no reason. Do you have roommates or family members that may have been using it? Did you have it in the bathroom with a lot of steam? Did you have it in the snow or rain?

Another thing is that it may have happened prior to the night you are referring to, it may have taken some time to actually cause the damage to the phone.

[numetheus]

That piece of paper is the same one that they use in just about all phones. It doesn't just set itself off because it takes a chemical reaction. And there is no reaction in dry conditions so something must have happened with lots of moisture, which will screw up anything electronic. Not just the iPhone.

So, this isn't "iPhone hell". This is "You can't keep your stuff out of moisture hell."

[crystalriver]

I've used many different cell phones over the years and never had one break but have never had a problem like this, I am the only user but maybe I need to move out of Florida since we have a moisture problem here. Thanks for the ideas but if this is the way this phone will behave they may want to stop selling it in high humidity areas or possible provide a rubber plug for the opening.

Anyone know of another that has visual voice mail like the 3g? that's why I bought it

[gpolenik]

What if there is a problem with your SIM card?

[numetheus]

I've used many different cell phones over the years and never had one break but have never had a problem like this, I am the only user but maybe I need to move out of Florida since we have a moisture problem here. Thanks for the ideas but if this is the way this phone will behave they may want to stop selling it in high humidity areas or possible provide a rubber plug for the opening.

Anyone know of another that has visual voice mail like the 3g? that's why I bought it

what your not getting is the paper used to detect moisture is the exact same they use to detect moisture in all phones. If it was simply Florida moisture, then every phone you have would have the same high moisture sticker problem and you could not return any phone. Since the sticker went off and none of you have ever had a sticker problem, it is obvious the iPhone had more moisture than your other phones.

I don't care about the phone model, I'm going purely based on the moisture sticker.

[crystalriver]

A new one was tried , same problem

[crystalriver]

a new one did not work

[ReyZero]

Thanks for repeating it
I'm guessing taking a shower with your iPhone isn't solving your problem either
When you say new one, do you mean a new SIM Card? You could tell AT&T that your phone isn't making or receiving calls, but the rest of the iPhone seems fine. Could be an account problem, I've had several of those when I was with Verizon

[Sime]

I've never heard of these moisture stickers before. Novel idea.

[bobb-mini]

Maybe a night rodent happened to come by ur phone and peed on it. Tough luck.

Am pretty sure it's not a Florida prob, else there would be an outcry from Floridians.

Talk to your AT&T Rep reasonably and maybe he'll give u a break on a new phone. Unload the old one on eBay, sum ppl think they can fix ANYTHING.

[Pyro7976]

Article on the topic:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/14/smart.phones.buggy/index.html

iLounge's editor in chief is even quoted in it...