14 DAY TRIAL // This is by no means a confirmed flaw with iOS 8 and / or specific iPhone models, but Apple and its partners in crime (the carriers) have begun sending out updates to alleviate some unknown issues. Chances are those issues are described in a newly-updated support doc that speaks of the inability to make or receive calls.
Earlier today, we were greeted by the Carrier Settings Update on different iPhones with different firmware builds installed. One was the iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8.1.1, the other an iPhone 5 running iOS 8.1. Since both received the carrier update, we’re inclined to assume it’s a problem inherent to iOS 8.
What’s a carrier settings update anyway?
According to Apple, “Carrier settings updates are small files that can include updates from Apple and your carrier to carrier-related settings, such as network, calling, cellular data, messaging, personal hotspot, and voicemail settings. You may receive notifications from time to time to install new carrier-settings updates.”
All good? Let’s move on, then.
A carrier update isn’t unusual in and of itself. These things fly around on a regular basis, and while it would be nice to know what they’re for every time, neither Apple nor the carriers bother to make a big deal out of them. In short, there’s never any release notes to go with these updates, but somehow we feel safe installing them. The process isn’t at all tedious – you basically just accept it and boom! it’s installed – and it never requires a reboot.
The strange thing was that the update arrived just as Apple had updated a support document titled “If you can't make or receive calls on your iPhone.”
Support document HT204027
The document in question talks about issues with the phone’s connectivity to cell towers, but also instances where conflicts can emerge between the phone’s settings and the cellular service.
Not surprisingly, one of the recommended fixes in case your phone can’t make or receive calls is to “Check for a carrier settings update.” In our case, we didn’t even need to check. It popped both in iOS 8 and in iTunes on our Macs.
We think it’s a pretty big coincidence that Apple decided to revise support document HT204027 while at the same time order carriers to push out an update (at least in this part of the world). It’s also strange that there don’t seem to be any widespread complaints about the telephony features under iOS 8. Anyone here having any problems making or receiving calls with their iPhone?
