How to get your iPhone SIM Card working on the Gobi WWAN (plus how to fix those "No SIM Card" errors)

[PrimitiveWallflower]

I got my iPhone 3G SIM card working on my m11x's Gobi WWAN modem this morning!

Now, I'm assuming that this isn't a ban-able subject matter, since no hacking/jailbreaking/unlocking is involved (I have a 3G with iPhone OS 3.1.3 and the latest baseband, so there's simply no way I can do any of these things on my phone at this point). All that's involved is setting up a new profile in the Dell Mobile Broadband (DMB) software with specific settings. Oh, and having a valid AT&T data account in good standing, of course

Also, I haven't tested this method with non-iPhone SIM cards, but I'm assuming that the new profile info is unnecessary, and that the "NO SIM CARD" work around is all you need to do to get them working.

First things first: like many of you, I would sometimes get random "No SIM Card Found" errors from the Dell software, and other times it would appear to be locked into Verizon Wireless. The fix is to switch networks in the software, then switch back. To do this, click on the Down arrow in the upper left hand corner of DMB. Go to "Settings," then "Network Selection." If your DMB is like mine, you'll see four networks: AT&T, Generic, Unknown, and Verizon Wireless. Pick any inactive network, click "Load," wait several seconds for the settings to take effect, then go back and load the AT&T network. You should be good to go!

Now, here's how I got my iPhone SIM card working after applying the above fix. From the DMB home screen, go Down Arrow > Settings > Profile Manager. Click "New" on the right hand side. Input the following information in the "General" tab (and keep in mind IT IS CASE SENSITIVE):

Profile Name: [Your choice]
Carrier Name: AT&T
Username: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password: CINGULAR1
Authentication Type: Automatic
APN: wap.cingular
PDP Type: IP

Leave the "VPN" tab blank. Click "OK." You'll go back to DMB home, and your new profile ought to be the one selected (if not, click on the black drop-down menu and select it). Then, click "Connect" and you're done!

Currently getting 2.3 Mbps download speed.

Please let me know if this doesn't work for anyone else, or if you need any other details.

ETA: One other thing: after switching networks to work around the "NO SIM CARD" error, sometimes my DMB would disable the radio. I was only able to switch back to AT&T after reenabling the radio first; I got an error trying to switch with the radio disabled.

[ali3nwar3z]

OMG you freakin ROCK!! just tried it out and it works beautifully...so glad i still opted to get the WWAN, as i knew SOMEONE would figure out how to get the iphone sim working.

oh yea, might want to edit the username...should be Username: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM

thanks again...i'd rep you 100x if i could...hehe

[PrimitiveWallflower]

Good catch! Yours is definitely the proper username, and I've edited the original post. What's funny though is that I inputed it incorrectly in my profile... and it still worked!?

[ali3nwar3z]

hmm, that's odd...wonder if it would work even without the username and password. man 2.3Mbps...what city are you in? i'm at work in downtown, los angeles, and i'm only getting like 900kbps.

[PrimitiveWallflower]

DC. I just moved here from San Francisco, and the improvement in the AT&T network alone made the move worthwhile.

ETA: Yes, even worth the blizzard(s).

[straden]

Thank You So Much

[ali3nwar3z]

anyone been able to get the GPS working? When I check the status, all i get is "Searching"

edit: could just be a reception problem, as i'm not getting gps signal on my iphone neither. i'll try it again later when i'm outside

[phobos512]

Just to clarify, there's nothing special about an iPhone's SIM card. SIM cards are an industry standard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

[impruv]

I just wish Canada had this option

[PrimitiveWallflower]

Just to clarify, there's nothing special about an iPhone's SIM card. SIM cards are an industry standard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

While I'm sure you're right about there being no physical difference, I'm fairly certain that iPhones operate with a different APN than other AT&T phones, so you need specific settings to be able to use their SIM cards on external devices.

But you're right insofar as when the first review of the m11x said that "iPhone SIM cards will not work on the WWAN," the issue was actually that the software didn't come pre-configured correctly rather than the problem being anything inherent to an iPhone SIM card.