If you’re an iPhone user and you didn’t get the “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it”, then you’re a lucky iPhone user, because this error is real and the phone does seem to have overheating problems. This is to protect the phone from damages caused by high temperatures and it is recommended to turn off the iPhone 3G and turn it on in a cooler environment.

Usually the “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it” was triggered by leaving the iPhone 3G in the car on a hot day, using it in direct sunlight or hot environments.

Fortunately, the phone can still make emergency calls, but it should be turned off soon after.

If the iPhone 3G exceeds it’s normal temperature, it might stop charging, display dims, have weak signal. The iPhone 3G can work in environments where the temperature is between 0º and 35º C and while in standby it can resist at temperatures of up to 45º C.