Enable Vodacom iPhone MMS & Tethering

Posted on 22. Jun, 2009 by Marc in Mac, iPhone

Following my 2 previous posts on setting up MMS & Tethering for Vodacom, which were quite manual and didn’t seem to work and keep the settings, this post will show you how to get MMS & Internet Tethering to work on your Vodacom or MTN iPhone.

EDIT 11/9/09 – It seems that with OS 3.1 Vodacom settings for tethering & MMS have been built into the firmware.MMS still seems to be wonky, and Tethering seems to be working. What we have seen though is that MTN users can no longer use tethering & MMS. They have also stopped the abilty to use custom profiles such as the ones below. See this post http://bit.ly/RVJWd. Bottom line if you not on Vodacom, rather don’t upgrade to OS 3.1 if you would like tethering & MMS to work

A BIG BIG thanks to PJ from Glucode for helping me with this and the files below. He is a LEGEND !!

Please note: (Please read these points before attempting the steps below)

  • These settings only work for VODACOM & MTN. I will attempt to get CellC & Virgin up shortly.
  • Do this at your own risk. This is merely a guide on how to get it working, and no responsibility can be taken if it does not work. Unfortunately I cannot provide “after sales service” :)
  • Please read through the post before attempting this. You need to have some sort of understanding as to how the iPhone works. This guide is not for beginners and I suggest that if you do feel uneasy, to rather leave it until Vodacom brings out the correct settings

VODACOM – If you are using a Mac download & extract this zip file -> Vodacom Carrier Settings Mac (Settings built into firmware)

VODACOM – If you use Windows download & extract this zip file -> Vodacom Carrier Settings – Windows (Settings built into firmware)

MTN – If you are using a Windows download & extract this zip file -> MTN Carrier Settings – Windows

MTN – If you are using a Mac download & extract this zip file -> MTN Carrier Settings – Mac

Step 1 – Uninstall any previous profile settings used

Uninstall any previous Profile settings used to set up MMS or tethering,by going to Settings -> General -> Profile and remove any other existing profiles you may have installed

Step 2 – Enabling iTunes to allow you to run the carrier file:

  • If you using a Mac, run the enable-carrier-testing.command file, in the above zip file, to set iTunes to allow updating the Carrier settings on the phone.
  • If you are using a Windows PC, run the enable-carrier-testing.cmd file in the zip file, to set iTunes to allow updating the Carrier settings on the phone.

Step 3 – Enabling the carrier (ipcc file) using iTunes

  • Plug-in you iPhone into your computer and open iTunes.
  • Select your iPhone in iTunes
  • If you are using Mac, Option(alt) & click on the Check For Update button
  • If you are using Windows, shift & click on the Check for Update button
  • Browse to where you extracted the zip files from above.
  • In the Files of Type drop down, chose iPhone Carrier Configuration files (*.ipcc) and then in the /Custom folder
  • Select the Vodafone_za.ipcc file, and press OK for VODACOM
  • Select the MTN_za.ipcc file, and press OK for MTN
  • This will load the Carrier file with all the correct settings for MMS & Internet tethering

Step 4 – Finish Up

  • Restart your iPhone
  • Once the phone has restarted check your settings in General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network. There should be settings for Cellular Data and MMS
  • You should now be able to set up Tethering and send & receive MMS’s
  • If you wish to revert back to the original settings follow step 3 above and use the ipcc file in the “Original” folder of the extracted zip file
  • Ensure you can make and receive calls after completing the above steps
  • You may find that you can’t send MMS’s for a short while after setting this up. We are working on the issue

Changelog:

23/6: Added MTN zip files
24/6: Replaced Vodacom Original .ipcc file with updated .ipcc file
26/6: Updated Custom Vodacom .ipcc file to new one provided by PJ. Should fix MMS problems while in 3g
26/6: Unlinked to Vodacom files, as reports of Calls dropping & no connectivity
29/6: Linked Vodacom files back to original version. These .ipcc files seems a lot more stable


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543 Responses to “Enable Vodacom iPhone MMS & Tethering”

  1. ahmed

    12. Dec, 2009

    i cannot seem to find the ORIGINAL ipcc file in the MTN folder

  2. Matt

    13. Dec, 2009

    Hi,\Would it be possible to make the vodacom downloads available again? I bought my iPhone 3Gs from Digicape, and tethering wasn’t available by default (software version is 3.1), and as mentioned above the profile download method doesn’t seem to stick.

  3. Steph

    13. Dec, 2009

    @ Matt

    The profile and IPCC file won’t work because they need to be signed.

    Try restoring firmware form iTunes and do not restore the backup of your phone. Also make your iPhone APN is activated with Vodacom (vodacom4me)

  4. Matt

    13. Dec, 2009

    @Steph Would I need to download a new firmware file, or would it be backed up from a previous sync? Also I’ll lose my phone backup? Or will I be able to apply the backup again afterwards?
    And I’m currently using the internet APN, should I be using something else?

  5. Steph

    13. Dec, 2009

    Restore the firmware from iTunes (given that is the latest one) do restore the backup! This way you have a fresh clean install
    You loose data that apps have saved on your phone such as game progress but not the data that can be synced again. Your first sync is going to be lengthy.
    Your APN should read iphone.vodacom.za.

  6. A

    14. Dec, 2009

    Hi there. I’ve successfully set my iphone 3gs up for mms using your directions and setting. Problem is now my 3G / Edge suddenly isn’t working. Please advise. Many thanks. A

  7. Matt

    14. Dec, 2009

    @Steph I didn’t buy my iPhone on one of voda’s iphone contracts, would the iphone.vodacom.za APN work? Isn’t it locked on non-iphone contracts?

  8. Steph

    15. Dec, 2009

    @Matt as long as you have a Vodacom sim you should be able to have the Call centre activate your APN or alternatively you can do it online via vodacom4me.co.za

  9. Glenn

    16. Dec, 2009

    After doing this numerous times (rebooting in between tries)
    I still don’t get the Internet Tethering option under Settings (General -> Network)

    I’m on MTN, not vodacom.

    Any thoughts ?

  10. Steph

    17. Dec, 2009

    @Glenn – Sorry Vodac only!

  11. Matt

    17. Dec, 2009

    @Glenn @Steph I got it working after restoring my firmware (thanks for the tip) but I found this to be pretty wonky. Sometimes the tethering option disappears, the first time I solved this by deleting the additional profile still on my phone (downloaded from previous tut on this blog)-even though it wasn’t actually active. Since then I found that going to Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data Network and pressing “Reset Settings” then exiting back out of settings and coming back in will make it available again. Very wierd and frustrating, but it does the job.

  12. Neil

    20. Dec, 2009

    Just backing up Matt here – I was also having issues – tethering just disappeared by itself the other day – after MASS frustration, I tried the “Reset Settings” option and it worked. No clue why the option just disappeared – 3.1.2 feels a tad buggy to me – lets’ hope Apple deal with these jagged edges in their next build.

  13. Michael

    27. Dec, 2009

    Hi – I’m in New. Zealand using my iPhone with a NZ sim card and, as the boffins on this site correctly predicted, it’s working fine. But when I try to log into the iTunes store from it I get the same message as in SA, viz not supported in this country. I know this to be nonsense, iTunes store vouchers are available in NZ. Any ideas how to fix this? I don’t have my laptop with me. But I do have an NZ iTunes acct which I opened from SA.

    Thanks

    M

  14. Michael

    01. Jan, 2010

    This is not strictly on topic but I’m hoping someone can help. I’m on holiday in New Zealand and want to access their iTunes store from my iPhone. I have an NZ account but my phone seems to think it’s still in SA and I get the standard error message that iTunes is not supported in this country. How can I get the phone to connect to the NZ store? I don’t have my computer with me so can’t make any changes that would require computer access to my phone. Thanks & Best wishes for the New Year. M

  15. Richard

    01. Jan, 2010

    Hi Michael

    You wil need to sign out of your SA account and sign in with your NZ account details. Then you should be able to acces without a problem. Look under your settings to do this

  16. Michael

    01. Jan, 2010

    @Richard – Thanks, will give it a try. M

  17. Tobias

    07. Jan, 2010

    I am confused and haven’t been able to restore my tethering since upgrading to 3.1.2.

    What are the steps to get it going again on Voda ?

  18. Anton

    14. Jan, 2010

    Hi Marc,
    I’m looking for the Vodafone_za.ipcc file. I was given my brother’s old 16GB iPhone 2G which doesn’t have the firmware settings for Vodacom & would like to see if I can get MMS going. Any chance of posting it again or emailing it to me?
    Thx & much appreciated.
    Anton

  19. Marc

    14. Jan, 2010

    @Anton, if you update the firmware on your phone to OS 3.1, you should have MMS & tethering enabled

  20. Steph

    14. Jan, 2010

    If my memory serves me right No MMS on a 2G …. only 3G

  21. Pieter

    14. Jan, 2010

    dont know if i am just slow wich is always a possibility but i have tried everything even restoring and upgrading again and therering options disapear after upgrade might it be a problem with itunes

    please help

  22. Tony Earl

    02. Feb, 2010

    Hey guys,
    sorry to chnge the topic but does anyone know if the visual voicemail works in south africa, and if so has anybody used it?

  23. Tony Earl

    17. Feb, 2010

    Hi Mat, thanks for that. im a noob at vvm , what network u on?

  24. Tony Earl

    17. Feb, 2010

    sorry didnt read the post properly, my ba

  25. Mark

    17. Feb, 2010

    Hi Matt, what is VVM? Googled vvm+vodacom but all it comes up with is “vvm attorneys”.

    thanks..

  26. Mark

    17. Feb, 2010

    Ah wait – Video Voicemail?

  27. Tony Earl

    17. Feb, 2010

    tries smsing it to vodacom and it says call help desk ;-(

  28. Jaap

    04. Mar, 2010

    I am battling with setting up Tethering function between iPhone 3Gs ver 3.1.2 and Macbook. The tethering function disappeared from settings on iphone. I have now followed your proposed process and installed ipcc and reset, but still no Tethering option. Any assistance to solve my headache will be appreciated.

  29. Mike

    03. Apr, 2010

    You know what….? At the end of the day… The iphone is a pretty cool gadget… but I will NEVER, EVER… BUY ANOTHER ONE…..!!! I am so sick and tired of Apples crap…. and there upgrades and then having to Jailbreak and then upgrade and then Jailbreak…. etc. etc….. Damn it just to tiresome… And for what…???? just to make it do what every other phones does anyway….. Cannot wait for my contract to end…..

  30. Greg

    03. Apr, 2010

    A quick update that the latest iPhone upgrade (Ver 3.1.3) automatically allows both Internet tethering and MMS using MTN! Tethering kicked in straight away and MMS setup as per MTN MMS is now working after 24 hrs.
    http://www.mtn.co.za/MTNServices/MessagingServices/Pages/MMS.aspx

  31. Theben

    03. Apr, 2010

    @Mike I stopped jailbreaking ever since MMS and tethering was enabled – There’s even a video camera app for the iPhone 3G which works ok – I honestly don’t know any other phone which gives as much functionality and versatility as the App store offers

  32. Mike

    03. Apr, 2010

    @ Theben…. Yes, I agree.. there are plenty apps… but since I upgraded to 3.1.3 my tethering vanished… and not being able to use my iphone as a modem really annoys me…. If I put in the “iphone.vodacom.za” then my tethering cpmes back but my phone wont find the network and my email stops working….
    If I put “vlive” in the APN then the network works and my email works, but no tethering..? WTF…!!!
    And dont even get me started on trying to bluetooth to other phones… such a simple thing on other phones….

  33. Steph

    03. Apr, 2010

    @Mike I am a bit puzzled. You say you cannot wait for your contract to finish, then you must be on Vodacom. Tethering and MMS are built in the firmware. Perhaps it’s all the JB that that messed it up? As long as your iPhone APN is active(on the phone and in @vodacom4me) and you have clean install (No restore from backup) it works every time (6 iPhones).

  34. Mike

    03. Apr, 2010

    Hi Steph…..
    Ok, checked vodacom4me and my iphone APN was not active… Activated it and must wait 24 hours.. so lets see if that works….
    But still not impressed with the way apple have kept iphones from communicating with other devices…. Don’t get me wrong though… its an amazing piece of technology, just a pity about the software restrictions….
    Anyway, thanks for the help…..

  35. Theben

    03. Apr, 2010

    Some of the iPhone’s initial restrictions seem to be because of their exclusive contract with AT&T in the USA. Its rumored that this contract is coming to an end this year.

  36. Craig

    18. May, 2010

    Wow. Too many comments. Um.. Any luck with CellC yet? I’m about to port my number across to Vodacom but would like to avoid this RICA stuff if possible….

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Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Marc Forrest.com » Setting up MMS on Vodacom iPhone OS 3.0 - 22. Jun, 2009

    [...] If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Or else you can follow me on Twitter Thanks for visiting!UPDATE: I have posted a new post that has a carrier file for Vodacom that works like a charm and keeps all the correct settings. You can find the post here -> http://www.marcforrest.com/2009/06/22/enable-vodacom-iphone-mms-tethering-2/ [...]
  2. Marc Forrest.com » Setting up Internet Tethering on iPhone - 22. Jun, 2009

    [...] If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Or else you can follow me on Twitter Thanks for visiting!UPDATE: I have posted a new post that has a carrier file for Vodacom that works like a charm and keeps all the correct settings. You can find the post here -> http://www.marcforrest.com/2009/06/22/enable-vodacom-iphone-mms-tethering-2/ [...]
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