iphone 4s problems

[du2vye]

I've had this phone for over a year now and have barely used it do to constant problems. Zero data and zero roaming. I go to Sprint, they send me to Apple, then back to Sprint ... I got more use out of a 10 yr old dumb Sanyo.

Is SERO blocked? I'm paying the $50/mth. Is it the phone or service (I suspect both). What other decent phones are out there? I'm not a phone geek but I do like to watch youtube once in awhile, I was hoping to load a few movies on, some music, play a little while waiting, etc.

The latest came with the ios7 upgrade to where I only get 2 hours of battery life. It's not even a cell phone anymore. GRRRRRRRR. I don't have months to figure out this phone. I've googled why without an answer. It's been useless.

I don't even know if I want to stay with Sprint at any price with this non-service.

[timeless2]

Your situation sounds isolated. Are you sure you have the roaming settings on the phone configured correctly?
SERO/SERO+ are not blocked out, far as I have seen, recently.
I have NOT heard good things about the 4s running iOS7, however. Major performance and battery issues...
Get on the line with the SERO support folks and figure it out--not the general mill.

[jimsteiner]

The boss had her 4S on SERO for almost 2 years with zero problems. I really don't think it is Sprint.

I wonder if Apple would try a different 4S for you to see if you get better results.

I'm not an Apple guy, but the 4S worked well on my SERO account.

[Johannes]

My iPhone 4S works... decently on Sprint. I'd hope to leave soon due to poor data speeds and overpriced monthly rates. However, if you're stuck in contract, T-Mobile will pay you $350 (or the value of your ETF) to switch.

[du2vye]

Just to update. I did get a hold of a tech person with Sprint. He did a test and said my phone was not connecting to the nearest tower. Did a few more things and said it's a device problem. Apple said they checked the attennae and now I'm out of warrenty. I know I will NEVER go to a Sprint store for tech help (they couldn't find anything wrong either).

I had terrible problems with my Blackberry before this phone. My service is not making ppl want to sign up with Sprint, that's for sure.

[jimsteiner]

Just to update. I did get a hold of a tech person with Sprint. He did a test and said my phone was not connecting to the nearest tower. Did a few more things and said it's a device problem. Apple said they checked the attennae and now I'm out of warrenty. I know I will NEVER go to a Sprint store for tech help (they couldn't find anything wrong either).

I had terrible problems with my Blackberry before this phone. My service is not making ppl want to sign up with Sprint, that's for sure.

So, it's a Sprint problem because the iPhone won't connect to the tower, and Apple says the iPhone is fine? That seems weird. If it's a tower problem, more folks would have an issue. But Apple techs are generally pretty good, in my limited experience. Just weird.

[blacksurfer]

So apple checked the phone antenna but what sis they say?


via the HoFo App

[du2vye]

Apple said they checked the antannae over a year ago and said it was fine, said the phone was fine and told me to go back to Sprint. When I followed up with Sprint tech support on the phone, they said it was a device problem which they couldn't do anything about and told me to go back to Apple. Well the Apple store is quite a drive.

I don't think the Apple guy checked the antannae the first time and gave me the brush off (I had already been in there for an hour trying to work out Apple ID problems unsuccessfully). The Apple guy was extremely unhelpful. I was surprised and I should have followed up on it immediately but life happens - and I let it go and limped along.

What really pushed it over the line was the upgrade. My phone battery lasts maybe an hour and a half? That's basically bricked my phone. I still have Apple ID problems all over the place (probably at least 5 of them; more than I can keep straight), every call drops in about 5 minutes no matter where I am. Can't even download an app now the speeds are so slow. The upgrade really made it worse.

I just can't put that much time into getting a working phone! I wasted over 80 hours one month between Sprint and Rim trying to get my old Blackberry working and that was a non-stop time waster. I couldn't repeat that mess which is why I sprung for the iphone... fooled me. I can NOT spend that much time on a phone to get it working!

I'm real ready to jump ship. Pick up a cheapie prepaid, anything just to make a doctor's appt. Currently I have to start every call by giving my phone number so they can call me back when we get disconnected. My voice mail message for the last two years has been to text me instead of leaving a voice message (yes, even those have been bad).

And Apple says it's fine. Right. Sprint says it's their problem. Right. So who am I paying for what?

I used to love gadgets and now I dread them.

[jimsteiner]

Your experience is so much different than my wife's experience with the 4S and 5S, that I'd lean toward the device as the culprit.

My wife's single experience with the Apple store, and my son's multiple experiences with Apple were very different from yours. I've only needed real technical help from Sprint once, and the tech was both knowledgable and helpful. The tough part was getting to a real technician by wading through the customer service reps.

Depending on how good their coverage is where you spend most of your time, either Verizon or AT&T should probably be your next choice when your contract expires.

[timothy92282]

Does anyone have a verizon bill with early termination fee on it will you please send me a copy of course blank out your name and personal information thank you email me at hotboy92282atgmail.com

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[du2vye]

Your experience is so much different than my wife's experience with the 4S and 5S, that I'd lean toward the device as the culprit.

My wife's single experience with the Apple store, and my son's multiple experiences with Apple were very different from yours. I've only needed real technical help from Sprint once, and the tech was both knowledgable and helpful. The tough part was getting to a real technician by wading through the customer service reps.

Depending on how good their coverage is where you spend most of your time, either Verizon or AT&T should probably be your next choice when your contract expires.

I agree. This is a very different experience with Apple which adds to my frustration. I feel stuck now. Apple just shrugs since it's out of warrenty. I really don't like this store here. I never have gotten my Apple ID sorted out with the cloud or itunes which makes them both unpredictable because some services don't seem to require anything? This Apple store is like playing 20 questions to get more than a yes or no or shrug out of them. I'm honestly thinking of driving 4 hours to get to another store.

I am out of Sprint contract but I'm reluctant to give up SERO. Even though it's not as good of a plan as it used to be, it's still better than what I can see from competitors. Maybe. Some sites are miserable trying to figure them out. I'm really spoiled with unlimited data. I have no idea what I'd use if I ever got a working phone. Changing plans isn't going to solve phone (hardware) problems.

[jimxx200]

Daughter upgraded (she's on SERO) to iphone 5c from 4 and for the past 4 months, her data and signal strength has been a nightmare! She and I both have contacted tech support at Sprint, changed settings, etc. and still no improvement. By luck just this morning and reading the Sprint section here at HoFo, I found out she is eligible to cancel without ETF applied since they are upping her monthly spending limit (changing the contract) charge..she's running, not walking away from Sprint and finding a new carrier. I've seen poor networks before from time to time, but Sprint in S.F. (and in many areas) is the absolute worst. Happy day