Sos only on iPhone 5c

I have had my phone for just on 3 months. A couple of days ago it started showing sos only.
I rebooted the phone and it was fine for a couple of hours, then reverted back to sos only. I then turned off 4g and phone now 'appears to be normal'. I am with Telstra in Australia.
Is there a concrete reason for the sos only, or is it still just guess work as to the cause???

This symptom sounds like your phone had originally been locked to a carrier and unlocked by "unauthorized" means. If this is the case there's no solution that you can get in an Apple hosted forum.
If you are sure the phone is either officially unlocked by Apple or the carrier you are using it with contact the carrier for a new SIM.
Also, if your phone was replaced by Apple at any time it's possible that your replacement had been unlocked but "unauthorized" means. If this might apply take the phone to an Apple store.

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SOS Only on iPhone 4 - Optus Australia

Hey all. Is anyone else having problems with their iphone displaying 'SOS Only' in the carrier field? Ever since I installed iOS 5.0.1 and turn my phone on, I get the 'SMS Only' status. If 'Locked SIM' does pop up, I enter my PIN and it says 'unlocking' but goes no further. Whilst it displayes 'unlocking' the status flashes between 'SOS Only' and 'Locked SIM'. I have tried removing and re-inserting the SIM, and doing a hard reset to no avail. I will try restoring the software and see if that works.
Message was edited by: ozute

This symptom sounds like your phone had originally been locked to a carrier and unlocked by "unauthorized" means. If this is the case there's no solution that you can get in an Apple hosted forum.
If you are sure the phone is either officially unlocked by Apple or the carrier you are using it with contact the carrier for a new SIM.
Also, if your phone was replaced by Apple at any time it's possible that your replacement had been unlocked but "unauthorized" means. If this might apply take the phone to an Apple store.

HT1937 My new iphone 5 was just unlocked from telstra and now won't recognize my sim, just says SOS only??

I bought an iphone 5 off a lady yesterday brand new in the box. It was locked to telstra so this morning i rung up and had it unlocked. Itunes sent the congradulations your phone is now unlocked message, and my phone gave me the option to update carrier settings, i clicked agree.
I've put my virgin mobile sim in and all it says is "SOS only' .
Please help

Nice try! Take a hike.

My iphone 4 is unlocked but shows sos only, how can I fix it?

Hi,
I've recently got my iphone4 unlocked, but all it's saying is sos only. How can I fix this?

I've tried the resetting a few times for the network all reset all. It shows voda au for a few seconds then goes back to sos.
Unlocked by the carrier (optus)

SOS only, No Service and searching for network

Need help!! Very little beer spilled on my iPhone 4 where the speaker and front camera is and was wiped try immediately. It was still working fine after the incident for a few days however, suddenly the iPhone started playing up and losing reception and now its started showing SOS only then it says No Service and switches back and forth from No Service to searching.
I've tried...
Turing on/off airplane mode
Taking SIM out then putting it back in
Putting another SIM in iPhone both Telstra SIM and Optus
Putting iphone in container of rice for hours
Restore network settings
Hard reset iphone (holding sleep/home key)
Updating iTunes version
Sync -> back up iPhone -> restore iphone -> sync and back up iPhone from previous back up's -> restore back up again just to be on the safe side but there's no change and keeps switching from No Service to searching.
Telstra is not sure whats wrong and has advised to take it to Apple or Telstra store for assessment and sent of to get fixed.
Does anyone know why this is happening or what I can do to fix it without having to fork out money if possible as not covered by warranty anymore.

Disregard this post, I have resolved my issue, thank you

SOS Only - cannot connect to network

My phone now only shows "SOS Only". I've been reading many threads related to this issue, and tried lots of methods to solve the problem, but so far no luck.
Details:
iPhone 4
iOS 5.0.1
iTunes 10.5.2
Carrier: Virgin Mobile 11.0 (Australia)
phone was bought outright (unlocked), and the SIM is also unlocked
A bit of history: I bought the phone from apple, and used an australian SIM card (pre paid - virgin) for a while. In July I moved to singapore, got a new SIM/number, and in the process of living there lost my original aussie SIM. Yesterday I returned to australia and went to the Virgin store to ask for a new SIM with the same number (that I had before I left australia). They did this for me no problem, and the new SIM gave the message "SOS Only". The bloke at the shop said it would find the network in about 30 minutes. I went back 2 hours later, still no change. They said that because it was jsut after xmas, lots of people were connecting new numbers, and that I should wait 24 hours.
Today I went to the shop again, and they tried a few things with their tech support. They tried it again with a new new SIM and still the SOS Only remained. Their suggestion was that the phone needed to be synced with my computer, so I went home.
Synced the phone and it said "there is an update avaliable for your carrier settings" and I assumed that this would solve the problem. I updated, synced again, and the same "carrier settings" message came up. It repeatedly came up each time I plugged it in or restarted the phone, but the SOS Only message remains. It seems that the carrier settings are not actually being updated
I have been reading related threads and tried the following:
restarting the phone
turning on/off airplane mode, 3G, mobile data, wifi, roaming,
resetting network settings
hard rebooting the phone
restoring from backup (12 months ago)
restoring from backup (2 hours ago)
turning off, removing SIM, inserting and turning on
Searching for carriers manually (Virgin does not show up, but i am sure their network is online)
I've reinserted my singapore SIM and it works fine
Note: I have been overseas and not used my australian number for FIVE months. The guy at the store assured me that only after 6 months does the number "disappear" and that shouldnt be the problem.
HELP! This is so frustrating and I don't know why it is happening. I think it is a problem with the "carrier settings". I think tomorrow I might go back to the shop and get another SIM with a different phone number. After that, I may go to the apple store and get help from a "genius".
Any suggestions or if you want any more info please reply, and thank you so much in advance!!!

I am havign the same problem, i sent my phone away through NextByte in Mackay Queensland for a cracked screen, when i recieved it back today, the sim card wont pick up carriers or any signal. I searched for a bit last night, apparently there is soemthing inside the phone which could be damaged. And after reeading further on, i read that once it is damaged, the phone cannot be repaired. my phone also says searching.... the i search for carriers manually (Telstra does not show up, but i i call called them and their network is online)
....so i dont really know if this was any help, but you could try getting a sim replacement? which is what i have been told to do

SOS ONLY

New IPhone 4s under 4 weeks old purchased from local Telstra shop.
Updated about 2 weeks ago to an Apple general software update.
Over the past few days the phone gives a message either SOS only or no Sim card located.
After removing the sim card and reinserting it the phone works again but then without warning or any particular circumstances gives no Si card or SOS only message agian. Receptiion is fine as other mobile phones work on the same Telstra network.
I have removed and reinserted the sim card about 6 times now and wonder if there is a hardware fault or if there is someway to reset the software if its a software problem.
Please advise.

Hi and welcome to the forums!
Read the attached link regarding possible reasons for the SOS code. I would take the steps one at a time.
I also would suggest reading the link on using a previously owned device.
Best of luck let us know how it goes.
Thanks,
Bifocals
KB03448 Network status indicator shows "SOS" on the BlackBerry smartphone
KB05099 Steps to take before selling or after buying a previously owned BlackBerry smartphone
Click Accept as Solution for posts that have solved your issue(s)!
Be sure to click Like! for those who have helped you.
Install BlackBerry Protect it's a free application designed to help find your lost BlackBerry smartphone, and keep the information on it secure.

SOS only, dosent pick up 3G

I got a iPhone 4s, it worked for a couple of months properly with no problems, its an unlocked iPhone but is coming up with SOS only, I've had this problem for a while now, when the problem first started accruing I removed the sim for 3-4 days and re inserted it and it worked fine again, 3G and everything, but then after 5 days it went back to SOS only, if you turn the phone off and take the sim out and turn it back on and re insert it, it works for a couple of hours, you can send texts and all, but then 3G doesn't work at all, its not picking it up, I don't know what the problem is, I've tried absolutely everything, please help !!!

Get a new sim. If that doesn't change things, make an appointment at an Apple store or with whoever handles iPhone warranty where you live.

I have registered on my PC two devices iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 4 now I am using only the iPhone 5. I have two different apple ID`s and yesterday I have FB update and from app store wanted to sign in with the ID form iPod Touch 4 how to fix it?

I have registered on my PC two devices iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 4 now I am using only the iPhone 5. I have two different apple ID`s and yesterday I have FB update and from app store wanted to sign in with the ID form iPod Touch 4 how to fix it? I want to use my current Apple ID not the old one. Regards!

Try this
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1495
Hope it helps.

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see
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5538
mac 101
http://www.apple.com/support/macbasics/
also
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4185

The photos that I better (improves automatic) are saved on the iphone, but when I transfer them to my PC improvements appear no more, only on iphone. I do not understand why the improvements are just the iphone, and not continue when I transfer the photos

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HT4437 Can you only connect iPhone 4S to Apple TV via AirPlay

Can you only connect iPhone 4S to Apple TV via AirPlay

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HT201412 after upgrading to newer iOS version 6 only my iphone 4 got turned off.

hi ,
after upgrading to newer iOS version 6 only my iphone 4 got turned off. it could not turned.. contacted apple store they tried all the option .. solution was replace with other iphone4 by paying £119, Which is really not the new one, its refurbished one..

So what's your question?

HT5463 Hi I am on an iphone 5 IOS7 and when I look at the 'Silence' setting at the bottom of the Don Not Disturb' screen - then even though all of the settings on that screen are off i.e. not green - the 'Silence' -'Only when iPhone is locked' setting is

Hi I am on an iphone 5 IOS7 and when I look at the 'Silence' setting at the bottom of the Don Not Disturb' screen - then even though all of the settings on that screen are off i.e. not green - the 'Silence' -'Only when iPhone is locked' setting is tickedP

Chris thanks for your reply, if none of the Do Not Disturb settings are switched on - then am I right that this setting will have no effect. I.e. I want my phone to ring at all times, so have turned off all of the do not disturb settings

What would happen if I added the itouch email to the add accounts on my iphone and confirmed that email address? Would only my iphone get both (itouch and iphone) messages? or will my itouch then also get my iphone messages as well??

What would happen if I added the itouch email to the add accounts on my iphone and confirmed that email address? Would only my iphone get both (itouch and iphone) messages? or will my itouch then also get my iphone messages as well??

Thank-you for clarifying third party and for pointing out the potential problems.
i will either have my phone unlocked by the carrier or get my phone service from them. switching carriers is not essential.
Thanks agin.
Cheers!

Sos only on iPhone 5c

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