Posted on July 31, 2008 - by Justin Hartman
How to change Vodacom APN settings on iPhone 2 firmware
When I upgraded my iPhone firmware from version 1.1.4 to version 2.0 I realised that I had lost the use of EDGE on the Vodacom network.
Justin from WantItAll alerted me to the iPhone Configuration Utility which allows you to create custom profiles for your iPhone.
What I didn’t realise and what became clear when I played with the iPhone Configuration Utility is that Apple created the functionality for corporates to have customised profiles on an iPhone that have pre-configured settings for their network and by using this tool you could in theory change APN and other settings thereby bypassing the default ones set by the network.
That was the theory but I just couldn’t get the Configuration Utility to work properly and it also required some technical know-how which I couldn’t really be bothered to understand so I decided to search for something simpler.
In so doing I stumbled across an APN Changer website based in New Zealand called Unlockit.
Unlockit provides a simple tool for changing your APN and other settings by creating a custom profile for your file which you can install. It’s an identical method to Apple’s utility just much simpler and easier to use. Here’s the steps I took to get my iPhone back on the Vodacom EDGE network.
Step 1:
Visit http://unlockit.co.nz in Safari on your iPhone.
Step 2:
Click on Set Custom APN.
Step 3:
In the APN text box type internet and then click on Download Custom Config.
Step 4:
Safari will close and you’ll be asked whether or not you’d like to install the custom profile file. Just click Yes and once the file has installed you’ll be back on the EDGE network.
In order to run this hack you’ll need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. I also suggest that you read Dion’s post on how to reactivate the Cellular Data settings in the Network settings tab. Dion’s solution is a more complicated but once done you’ll be able to change the settings as and when you need to.
I am the MD and co-founder of 
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August 13, 2008
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is the name ‘internet’ for every iphone and service like t-mobile useable ?
or are there different names for providers etc ?
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August 13, 2008
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@zeno – this is not a generic thing so you’d need to contact your service provider to find out what their APN details are. Some might even require a username and password so best to check beforehand.
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August 13, 2008
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is the name 'internet' for every iphone and service like t-mobile useable ?
or are there different names for providers etc ?
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August 13, 2008
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@zeno – this is not a generic thing so you'd need to contact your service provider to find out what their APN details are. Some might even require a username and password so best to check beforehand.
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August 22, 2008
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Thanks so much for this solution! I’ve been battling all morning trying to get my EDGE capabilities back and finally it’s working thanks to your solution…
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August 22, 2008
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Thanks so much for this solution! I've been battling all morning trying to get my EDGE capabilities back and finally it's working thanks to your solution…
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August 26, 2008
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Hi,
Thanks for your guidence.
However, I am not able to connect to http://unlockit.co.nz – because neither wifi nor EDGE is working in my mobile after migrating inot 2.0.1 from 1.1.4.
Pl suggest.
Thanks in advance.
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August 26, 2008
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Hi,
Thanks for your guidence.
However, I am not able to connect to http://unlockit.co.nz – because neither wifi nor EDGE is working in my mobile after migrating inot 2.0.1 from 1.1.4.
Pl suggest.
Thanks in advance.
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August 26, 2008
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I've never experienced this before so I'm not sure what to do. Maybe you should try and redo the hack?
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September 5, 2008
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please some one help me i cannot use my iphone to log onto the internet at all it says invalid gateway ip
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September 25, 2008
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Howzit.
There is a new forum for South African iPhone users. It aims to get SA iPhone users together and establish a knowledge base for current and future iPhone users. I will post on there. There is a an app called QuikPwn which enables customization. Take a look.
http://www.iphonehelp.co.za
http://www.iphoneinsa.co.za
Cool!
P.S. n? are you connecting through wi-fi or through edge? soon it will be 3g!!! cant wait…
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October 3, 2008
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[...] permalink This is the way it could be done on 2.x How to change Vodacom APN settings on iPhone 2 firmware by Justin Hartman [...]
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October 5, 2008
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I’ve also lost my Edge network.
Went to Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network
And changed the APN from “iphone.vodacom.za” to “internet” (and also tried “vlive”). Both didn’t work.
Went to unlockit.co.nz – the fields are exactly the same as the Cellular Data Network – but it now works.
Thanks Justin.
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November 1, 2008
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[...] you can use a great website (on the iPhone) to download new APN settings. There’s a tutorial here and you can access the iPhone site here—select ‘Next’ then ‘Set Custom [...]
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November 2, 2008
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Thank for the Link to my Website. 1000’s of people have visited the website. If you found the site useful please donate (The link is on the website).
Thanks
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January 31, 2009
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As for STEP 14. I had to reboot the iPhone before it worked. I was just about to give up and then read it on Dion’s post.
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March 2, 2009
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Awsome tool! Thank you very much!
Worked perfectly for Tmobile.com USA apn
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March 2, 2009
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I have an unlocked iPone and could not get wifi to connect, to make matters worst, I reset my network and now I could not enter wap.voicestream sice there is no place to enter this network name. How can I get this back?
Thank you
PPP
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March 27, 2009
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the best way to get fast internet service is to input this code in the apn slot epc.tmobile.com it works wonders.. let me hear your feedback
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April 20, 2009
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Awesome tool
For anybody dealing with the ever painful Virgin in OZ try APN: VirginInternet & the rest blank, after months of no help from Virgin, this fixed straight away.
Many Thanks
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April 21, 2009
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i read your blog on how to fix your iphone with the custom vpn setting from that new zeland site but it didn’t fix my iphone.
ill be really appreciative if you can help me out here:
when i enter safari and try to load a page it says:
“cannot open page safari cannot open the page because it is not connected to the Internet”
i dont know why its doing this. i have an iphone 3g 2.1 firmware: 02.11.07 with it being jailbreaked.
the phone was bought in hong kong, i dont know if thats why? i have a turbo sim attached to my simcard. i am on vodacom pre-paid.if anyone can help me, ill be so stoked. my wifi works.i just cant access the internet with wifi.
thanks,
d
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May 11, 2009
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I had the same promblem with my Vodacom Iphone. I just changed the APN to internet and left user ans password blank. Now I can use safari and download mail.
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May 20, 2009
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thanks mate works like a charm, i donated some money to you
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June 11, 2009
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I’m having trouble getting mine to work. I have T-Mobile with Tzones ($5.99/mo), and everything has worked like a charm until this morning. I tried restarting my iPhone, re-installing the 2 different T-Mobile settings on APN Changer (tried each separately, also restarted after each time to see if that worked) and still can’t get Edge to work on my iPhone. The “E” shows up but no connection. Suggestions?
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June 11, 2009
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I recently purchased an Iphone which is unlocked and jailbroken, I believe. I have entered into the APN site..wap.voicestream.com and left the user name and password blank. When I turn off my phone, wap.voicestream… disappears and I have to re-enter it in order to get email, internet, etc. Is there a way to keep that setting in the phone?
Also…does anyone know how to keep yahoo messenger active on this phone without turning off the auto lock? When the phone locks, if someone attempts to yahoo..it shows I am offline. I am use to the blackberry always showing me online…HELP???