Try connecting a 100 Ohm resistor across the input to ground then wiring it across the earphone output of the phone. The most likely cause of problems is the phone itself, most will not produce any audio unless it sees a low impedance across it's earphone socket, that's what the 100 Ohm resistor emulates. The other thing to watch for is the transmission form the phone itself. If you place it too close to the circuit there's a stong possibility of it's transmiter inducing voltages into the wiring that upset it's operation, keep them at least 0.5m apart.
Brian.