Nokia N95 8G - unable to send message: Solution for Nokia mobiles N95 and other models having problems sending a message via CAMSHIN or other SMS centers

After extensive Google search I found numerous people with Nokia N95 and other Nokia models having the error unable to send message xxxx ( with xxxx being either recipient name of address book or phone number.

I tried all published suggestions - some of them apparently worked for a few users. For me none of the recommended solutions worked. Below you find my solution that solved the problem in a simple way for me.

Here some message error solutions that have been recommended:

• Reformat PHONE ( N O T MMC ) memory then restore factory settings and restore your data from your MMC backup. There is the famous 3 key method - or a simple *#7370# then enter the PIN 12345 ( default for Nokia ).
• Similar OTHER recommendations - some worked for some users some not.

Typical for those who had the unable to send message error was that the phone worked until one moment then stooped.

So was my case. I traveled from Philippines to Cambodia a few days ago. Using roaming from SMART - after arrival at my hotel in Cambodia I switched SIM to my new provider CAMSHIN. Replied to a few incoming messages for a few hours. May be some 10-20 messages went out normally. The suddenly all outgoing SMS messages ended with the sending failure message.

I did first:

1. Backup all phone memory data to MMC
2. *#7370# with PIN 12345 - then reformat phone memory
3. restore all phone memory data from backup
4. tried again - NO success
5. deleted all CAMSHIN provider configuration - installed configuration file again = NO success
6. Nokia firmware update to newest version using for my Philippine model N95 8G. My newest firmware version now is 31.0.015 - I still had a 10.0.xxx inn my N95. *#0000# will give you your Nokia N95 firmware version. May be that works for other Nokia mobiles Note that each region may have a slightly different firmware version !!les as well. The firmware update was done with the current Nokia PC suite and the software updater. All easy and simple - except time consuming. The firmware is some 100MB and the complete set of PC suite similar size with all components downloaded and installed. The firmware update and restore of phone memory from backup - again NO success.

Now that all recommended solutions failed - brainwork started. I finally noticed that I could reply to most incoming SMS - but failed to send new SMS.

Some technical background and the final error message solution in my case

Some countries have international numbers ( country codes starting 00 others start with "+". Example Philippines the country code is 0063 or +63. In some countries it is tradition to write down international numbers using 00 in other more US influenced countries people use strictly + when entering phone numbers.

All my address book numbers started with 00 ... The same for data centers which may start with + or 00.

A default setting in Nokia phones often is "reply via same centre" which means if you receive a SMS your reply is sent via the SENDERS own SMS centre instead of your center! That was the reason why many SMS replies were successful while a few - those with this option disabled - failed. The reason why replies to incoming SMS worked is obvious. When you receive a SMS that means the sender has used correct SMSC numbers as well as a correct senders number. If same number and SMS centre number is used for reply, then all is perfectly working for you as long as you reply to incoming messages. And as long as the sender has that "reply via same centre" option activated.

In my case all incoming SMS came from Philippines and those all my replies were returned via the senders centre. SMART in the Philippines processes BOTH + or 00 equally for dialing phone calls AND for sending SMS.

CAMSHIN and possibly other providers however accept strictly zero tolerance + to make calls to international numbers or national numbers having country code included or for the use of SMS centres. I noticed that all my attempts to dial numbers from my address book resulted in an error message "your call can not be completed at this time" ... very helpful error message instead of saying "wrong number".

With all variations of failing solution-attempts nearly done, I realized that it strictly is a provider system configuration issue. NON-tolerance toward + or 00 for all international phone numbers. I even had all my local numbers with international country code for the simple reason as I travel and thus call from different countries.

Today I changed ALL my phone book numbers from 00 to + and my SMSC - data center number as well to CAMSHIN SMSC is +85511001555.

Some tests still failed. Because I was using a test SMS I once created and simply stored in the Draft folder of my Nokia. When resending that test SMS, the original phone number is used rather than an updated current phone number from the same address book entry.

Rewrite the senders number if you have failed messages in your draft or outbox folders waiting to be sent !

Now all works perfect. SMS and MMS and Internet via CAMSHIN using Nokia N95 8G. The firmware update was overdue anyway. clean up and backup always is good - in the heart as well as in life and technology.

If you have same or similar problems using ANY Nokia or other mobile phone - have a look at your phone numbers and data center numbers. This problem may simply be a bug on the provider OR Nokia side. Normally BOTH methods should be allowed and result in + being replaced by double zeros. Apparently either on provider or Nokia firmware side this is a compatibility problem.

A final word to the Nokia updater for firmware updates and Nokia software updates. I noticed during my Google search that a few people had download problems and aborted to avoid corrupt firmware. This caution certainly is justified. However - I started my Nokia PC suite download including updater and had a power-failure in the middle of all process! The safe point to notice is that the Nokia updater software strictly FIRST downloads a software package - then installs that package before proceeding to the next software package. One after another. The Nokia is best connected all the time via USB cable to your laptop or PC. Hence the Nokia software NEVER is directly installed into your Nokia from online source, but always from your PC or laptop to your mobile after download successfully completed. Hence even in my case of power-failure there was NO data damage at all to my N95. However you have to fully assure that your PC or laptop AND Nokia survives a power failure during the firmware update. Nokia mobiles best should have full battery and be connected to the power with full battery. The entire procedure may last up to a several hours if you do all update and download on a slow line. It took me some 200 MB download and some 6 hrs to complete all procedure while online.

Love and bliss

hans