Potential iPhone 3GS Battery Issue with Apple iOS4
It has just come to our attention that there may be an unforseen compatibility issue with the iPhone 3GS batteries that we have been offering to our customers, and the new iOS4 operating system that Apple has released.
We have had a customer report today (and we have been able to duplicate this in our shop) that, while upgrading his iPhone 3GS that had one of our batteries installed to the new iOS4, the update stopped midway and reported an ‘Error 29′. We have been doing some research (admittedly, very limited because this is such a new development) and it appears the update is failing because of the replacement battery. The update to iOS4 appears to work just fine if the old, original, stock battery is installed.
Now, we do not know if this is an issue that will quickly fade away with a yet-to-be-released iOS4 patch from Apple, or if this outcome was by design, but we will eventually get to the bottom of it.
As a company that prides itself on providing perfect iPhone repair products and services, learning that there could be an issue with something that we have sold, even when it is largely out of our control, is very disconcerting to us. But we also pride ourselves on transparency: we are determined to find a solution to this potential issue, communicate our findings to you as we get them, and hopefully be able to offer a solution to all of our customers in a way that is as quick and painless for all involved.
Until then, if you have had us install an iPhone 3GS battery for you, or you have purchased an iPhone 3GS battery from us and installed it yourself, please refrain from updating your iPhone 3GS to the new iOS4 operating system. If you have already done this, and encountered ‘Error 29′ and your iPhone 3GS is no longer working properly, please email us so that we can provide you with the necessary steps to reverse the iOS4 update [if this is even a feasible option at this time]. And if you have updated to iOS4 with one of our batteries installed and did not encounter any issues, please email us and let us know that as well. Email: service@milliamp.com
As far are we know, this issue does not affect 1st Generation iPhone (aka iPhone 2G) batteries, iPhone 3G batteries, or any of the other batteries that we sell.
We will be providing updates to this situation as it develops on our blog and on Twitter.
Thank you in advance for your patience during this time.
Best regards,
Anthony Magnabosco, Owner
Milliamp LTD
owner@milliamp.com
Cell Phone: 210-787-9482
6/24/2010 11:48AM Update:
We just posted a Press Release on TransWorldNews about this issue to see if it helps generate solutions. – Anthony
6/25/2010 11:23AM Update:
We have been working hard and trying all sorts of ways to restore an iPhone 3GS back from iOS4 to 3.1.3 so that at the very least an iPhone 3GS in this predicament can be functional again, but we keep encountering the dreaded Error 29 during the restore process. As soon as we have a proven solution that works, we will let you know here. -Anthony
6/26/2010 1:00PM Update:
We just posted a Press Release on PRWeb about this issue to see if it helps generate solutions. – Anthony
6/28/2010 9:23PM Update:
Well, we have received a handful of emails/calls from customers that have our iPhone 3GS battery installed and are unable to complete the update to iOS4. Interestingly, we are also receiving (and reading) reports of others that have the stock OEM iPhone 3GS battery installed with the original Apple operating system (non-jail-broken) and are also having issues upgrading to iOS4, or if they can upgrade, they are having severe battery meter drainage issues.
This suggests to us that the issue that we have reported is not entirely related to just third-party, after-market, generic iPhone 3GS batteries. There are a few rumours of a new update to iOS4, but as of today, nothing is available yet.
We did just have a customer tell us about the method that he used to downgrade his iPhone 3GS to his pre-iOS4 operating system, but we have not yet had a chance to duplicate his steps and see if it really works – we will give it a shot first thing on Tuesday. More important than a successful, temporary downgrade in OS, however, are functionality and stability. We will have to make sure the device continues to work well in 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 without freezing up, hanging, or rebooting before we can conclusively say we have a way for you to downgrade from iOS4.
As an aside, we have already put our feelers out for brand new iPhone 3GS batteries. If we can get our hands on some, we will glady change out the first battery with this new one – providing that these newbies pass our tests and work flawlessly with iOS4. Please stay tuned, and thanks for your continued patience. – Anthony
6/30/2010 12:34PM Update:
Took a few days, but we have been able to successfully communicate the exact type of iPhone 3GS battery that works with iOS4 to a couple of our suppliers. These should arrive late next week, and once they do, we will test them out to not only make sure that they work with iOS4, but will also hold a charge comparable to the original stock battery Apple installs in the iPhone 3GS. More updates to follow. – Anthony
7/7/2010 10:27PM Update:
Our first of two new battery shipments will arrive early next week. The minute they arrive, we will be pouring over them to see if they work in an iPhone 3GS with iOS4. A customer that found a new battery elsewhere brought their iPhone 3GS in – we installed it and she was able to complete the iOS4 install, so it looks like this is the correct approach. Thanks for your continued patience. – Anthony
7/12/2010 2:40PM Update:
Our first batch of new iPhone 3GS batteries arrived just a few moments ago! We expect to have the results of our tests with iOS4 with this first shipment available before the close of business Wednesday. Stay tuned. – Anthony
7/14/2010 10:34PM Update:
Sorry for not posting this a bit earlier today, but wanted to be sure of our findings. Great news. The brand new iPhone 3GS batteries we received are working great with iOS4. Details on how to get your new iPhone 3GS battery will be emailed to our customers and will then posted here before Noon Thursday. – Anthony
7/15/2010 2:24PM Update:
We were literally minutes away from blasting out an email that contained a link to the page on our site where former customers can place a new order for a free iPhone 3GS battery when we learned that Apple has just released an update to their iOS4 Operating System. We are downloading it from Apple now and expect to be able to attempt to install it on several iPhone 3GS’ running one of our batteries later this evening. Before Noon Friday we expect to be able to advise you on going forward with the new iOS4 or going through the steps of getting a new replacement battery. This is definately not a planned thing and we are not dragging our feet at all – we just want to make sure we have all of our ducks lined up before we communicate a solution to our customers. Thanks again and stay posted. – Anthony
iPhone 3GS Battery Replacement Plan
7/16/2010 9:20AM Update:
Well, iOS 4.0.1 did not play nicely with our original replacement iPhone 3GS batteries, but our new iPhone 3GS batteries worked just fine with iOS4 and iOS4.0.1, so we are moving forward with our battery replacement program.
Anyone who received an iPhone 3GS battery from us can place a new order that will start the process for getting their battery exchanged. We are not going to charge anyone for the cost of the new battery, the labor associated with swapping these batteries out, or the return shipping expense from us to you.
An email about this has just been sent to all of our customers, and we will continue to make updates regarding iOS4 and battery compatibility as we learn more about it on this specific blog post and via our Twitter account.
Thank you for your patience through all of this – it certainly was not expected, but hopefully we handled it to your satisfaction. All future sales of replacement iPhone 3GS batteries that we sell from this point on will be the new iPhone 3GS battery. – Anthony
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s unfortunate that this has happened but hopefully the issue will be resolved quickly. I’m looking forward to the updated OS. I just got my battery replace about a week ago so it stings a bit for me knowing that this is my issue.
However, I do greatly appreciate Milliamp’s proactive communication to let me know what was causing my problem. I also enjoyed doing business with Milliamp and would recommend them to friends and family in need of iDevice repair.
Sorry, there is more than just the battery. My 3gs iphone is 4 months old. no new battery, no jailbreak, nothing that could possible be construed as not quite right. and now….. useless. Apple havenothing over the phone I have to send it back. My phone carrier has nothing, just a repair (sending it back) and for me – no iphone for a month!
Just check out the Apple forums where there is a 14+ page thread about people having this issue.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2471090&start=180&tstart=0
My phone was brand new and it gave me Error 29, and also just randomly reboots using OS4. It worked perfectly with 3.1.3.
I can confirm Michele’s comments. I have a 3GS 32GB never jailbroken and with original battery and since OS4 update – which it did with no problems – the phone consistently reboots during long calls. Very frustrating.
Out of curiosity, does anyone know what happens to an iPhone that had a battery upgrade, then got an OEM temporarily installed to update the software and then replaced the new non-OEM battery? Not advising that anyone try it but I find myself in a situation where I can’t update my phone but my wife did. Just really eager to get up to 4.0 but not sure where to buy an OEM battery myself and know if it’s legit so I’m kind of waiting for Milliamp now.
3GS 16GB, never jail broken. Worked ’til IOS4 update. Then repetitive crashes.
End of business day has passed. I would appreciate an update on your findings.