Monday, February 11, 2013

Jelly Bean 4.2.1 - SMS send/receive problem

Disclaimer: Below information is shared to just help others based on my personal experience. Do it at your own risk. Am not liable or responsible whatsoever.

After i inserted the new microsim to my LG Nexus 4, everything worked except the incoming messages. After calling the cust care twice got to know the problem was with message center number that is wrongly set.
For latest android phones, the option to update message center is not direct. Especially with 4.2.1, you have to update two values.Message center number is specific to every career and is also shortly called SMSC. To know more about this go here.

Now let us go to the update of SMSC:
For usual phones, on the message settings, you will be able to find the 'Message Center' where you can update. this is the usual 12 digit number with a + (eg : Idea MH - +919822078000). If you do not know your message center number, you can get it by google or by calling your cust care.

On recent android.phones, the option is not available on message settings and the value is not straight as well. For 4.1.1 the SMSC value must be 16 digit PDU format number. To get this 16 digit number from your normal message center number, check this link . For Android 4.2.1 , it is two values separated by comma, first is the normal message center number of the service provider inside double quotes, and the next is 145 or 129 . Eg Usually for india service providers  : "+919822078000", 145 (145 indicates the message center number with + otherwise 129).
Follow below steps:
1. Dial *#*#4636#*#* (also ie *#*#info#*#* )
2. On the displayed testing  screen select 'Phone Information'
3. Now scroll down to see the empty field for SMSC
4. First 'Refresh' to see the already existing value
5. update SMSC
a. For Android 4.1.1, you have to update the field with 16 digit pdu without quotes or + eg: 0791198904100130 (SMSC PDU format - airtel TN)
b. For Android 4.2.1, as mentioned above  "+919822078000", 145
6. Update and refresh. If you dint receive any update error and if the same value that you updated appears after refresh then you are done.
7. Restart your phone  and you are done. might take 10 mins to reflect. You should now be able to send or receive SMS.

Spent two days to get this through and hence created a post on it to especially help 4.2.1 users as other info are available on google already.

12 comments:

Lost soul said...

Thanks man, i was also stuck at this for a couple of days

Ajeesh said...

Thanks Buddy. It helped me..

Unknown said...

any idea why the SMSC number is not staying

Unknown said...

any idea why the SMSC number is not staying on the Nexus 4 JB 4.2.2

Ragavendran Ramalingam said...

You just have to refresh to see it. It is saved after u update

Anonymous said...

Hey i faced the same thing today on my new Nexus 4 .... the SMSC # was already right.

After talking to Customer care i found that on New Sim(I got new micro sim) it will take atmost 48 Hours to enable msg.

If that is the case with you, you can wait patiently

Ragavendran Ramalingam said...

Thnks for the info. It wasn't my case tho

aJ said...

Hi Ragavendran,

Thanks for the information. It helped check the SMSC number. However, outgoing SMS is barred for 8hours from the time of activation of your new SIM card. This is mentioned on the application which is used for availing new SIM card claims the customer care executive.

So I am guessing that's why the issue of send/receive SMS.

Ragavendran Ramalingam said...

Ajith,
In my case problem persisted at least 2 days and SMSC number wasn't set until I did. Not sure if it had anything to do with carrier as well. Thnks for the details.

Unknown said...

Even after entering the smsc I am getting update error...ne idea as to y it is happening..??

Ragavendran Ramalingam said...

Sorry no idea.

Partono said...

Superb... thank you very very much for your kindness info. I can send sms now!!! Yippieeee!!