iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off Mobile data (3G EDGE and GPRS)

Discussion in 'iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple Watch' started by elbert, Jul 22, 2008.

  1. elbert

    elbert Active Member

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    EDIT: This solution, although still functional, is negated by the fact that the iPhone's new Carrier Settings allows the editing of the APN, which is a much simpler solution. Simply sync your iPhone with iTunes and the prompt to update the carrier settings should appear. If not, simply click on Check for Update to make it appear.

    Thanks.


    By default, the iPhone is setup to recognize your Globe SIM and automatically configure the APN (Access Point Note) with the address internet.globe.com.ph. With this setting, when not on Wi-Fi, each time you tap on Internet-connected apps like Safari, Mail, AppStore, Weather, Maps and Stocks, the iPhone will connect to the Internet via Mobile Data (3G, EDGE or GPRS). Except for those with an iPhone plan (which provides 40, 60 or 100 free hours, depending on the plan), these services aren't free. Being that the touch screen is sensitive, it is very easy to accidentally tap on one of these Internet-connected apps.

    To avoid being charged for accidental Mobile Data usage, all one has to do is to edit the APN with the wrong address. This will effectively disable Mobile Data. To edit the APN, just navigate your iPhone to Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network, Change the APN by either omitting the last letter or adding another character at the end (i.e. "internet.globe.com.p" or "internet.globe.com.phh")

    ---------------

    The original post that started this thread:
    Thanks to http://brent.kearneys.ca, I now have a way to disable EDGE by using iPhone 2.0's mobileconfig and Profiles features.

    As of this writing, in iPhone 2.0, there is no easy way to disable EDGE/GPRS. nor edit the APN.

    There is a mobileconfig file that will do that for you easily. In this file, the APN has been set to "null". All you have to do is download it and email it to yourself. Open the email in the iPhone and tap on the attachment You will be prompted to install the configuration.

    If you want to revert to your original settings, simply navigate to Settings > General > Profile and then REMOVE the APN Disabler Profile.

    The file can be obtained here: http://homepage.mac.com/elbertcuenca/apn-disabler.mobileconfig

    (if it downloads as .txt, simply rename and remove the .txt extension so it retains the .mobileconfig extension instead)

    P.S. you can trust the config file. I checked its contents and I'm currently using it. It's perfectly safe.
     
    #1 elbert, Jul 22, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2008
  2. vicicasas

    vicicasas Active Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Once you've reverted to your original settings, is there a way to again disable EDGE or do you have to go through the process of installing the configuration?
     
  3. mikaelrules

    mikaelrules Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Does the iPhone keep a constant connection to the data network or does it connect only whe needed? (Assuming that any push services or periodic checks of email, etc are turned off) This is important for "time" based data rates. Don't want the iPhone connected 24/7!
     
  4. antski

    antski Well-Known Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    thanks for the tip elbert!
     
  5. elbert

    elbert Active Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    It is possible for me to create another mobileconfig file that has the proper APN, so that you can simply switch between Profiles, but it'll be specific to a carrier. Give me some time as I'm about to step out.

    Simply REMOVE the config and it reverts. If you want to remove the APN again, simply go back to the email and install the mobileconfig file again.
     
  6. XyNo

    XyNo Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Is this the same as the Carrier Settings Update when you sync to iTunes?

    I just wanna ask because before I updated my carrier settings, I don't have options under Network at all. After that, I now have the option to key in my APN/Username/Password.
     
  7. rsa

    rsa Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    I can edit the apn settings on my iphone 2.0.
     
  8. hannibal

    hannibal Guest

    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    i think this workaround is only for GLOBE subscribers. i'm on SMART and i can edit my APN without any problems.
     
  9. rsa

    rsa Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    I'm also on Smart.
     
  10. elbert

    elbert Active Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Interesting that this doesn't affect SMART users. I presume it's the same SUN users. I guess this means that iPhone 2.0 has Globe's network settings in it but not Smart's.
     
  11. loko__loko

    loko__loko Well-Known Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    hmm maybe insert smart/sun sim to change the apn then insert back the globe sim?
     
  12. courtside3

    courtside3 PhilMUG Addict Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    There are two more ways to change APN settings for Globe users with iPhones on 2.0 firmware.

    Option 1:
    1. Connect via SSH or iPhoneBrowser.
    2. Once connected, go to /System/Library/Carrier Bundles.
    3. You’ll see a lot of numbers. Don’t worry. Scroll down to end of the list to find human-readable names and choose your carrier.
    4. Download carrier.plist.
    5. Double-click it to open it with Property List Editor.
    6. Go to Root>apns>0 and change the value of apn (It’s sufficient to add an extra word, e.g. offline, so you can later on undo the changes you made).
    7. Save and upload the file to the same directory where you initially downloaded it.
    8. Restart your iPhone and turn off Airplane Mode. You can try if it worked by turning off Wi-Fi and trying to access a web page. If it says “Unable to Connect,” you did everything right.

    Option 2:
    Navitage to http://www.unlockit.co.nz/ using your iPhone, and follow the steps outlined in the site.

    Credit for the instructions above goes to ninsss of applei.ph. :)
     
  13. techiechic

    techiechic Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Been looking for this. Thanks!
     
  14. doblezeta

    doblezeta Well-Known Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    I made a tutorial on how you can be able to edit the APN of Globe on FW 2.0 here.

    Using this method, the correct APN (internet.globe.com.ph) is enabled by default BUT you'll be able to edit the APN to make it wrong, hence turning off the EDGE/GPRS. (example: internet.globe.com.ph1 would turn OFF EDGE/GPRS). You'll only need to SSH once and you'll be able to edit Globe's APN na. :)

    HTH :)

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    #14 doblezeta, Jul 22, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2008
  15. AllanRR

    AllanRR Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Cool:cool: . It worked. Thanks for the tip.
     
  16. pogi_wireless

    pogi_wireless Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    thanks elbert. works fine. :D
     
  17. ferrarista44

    ferrarista44 Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    @doblezeta - it works! note lang, for those who put the previous hack (the carrier bundle hack for 1.1.x), you'll have 2 folders: GLOBE_PH and Globe_ph.bundle. modifying the carrier.plist in the Globe_ph.bundle folder doesnt do anything. Edit the one in the GLOBE_PH folder. :)
     
  18. gviterbo

    gviterbo Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    this is genius. i've been trying to look for a solution until i stumbled upon your post elbert. thanks, man!
     
  19. execute

    execute Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    Won't just turning off Data Roaming effectively disable EDGE?
     
  20. kaging

    kaging New Member

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    Re: iPhone 2.0 How To: turn off EDGE and GPRS

    how about sa globe prepaid users? any luck?
     

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