iPhone Activation Issues

[SPUY767]

How are you using it w/o activation.

-mark

I was thinking the Same thing. Although, once, when I was fooling around in the emergency screen, I got an error of some sort and I was in a screen where I could view my contacts, and my call history.

[chicat]

Verizon folks -- my number wasn't porting until I physically turned off my Verizon phone. Within 5 minutes of doing so, its dead... not sure, but I figured this might help others out in the long agonizing process.

Also... I then called to find out more information and it seems that (according to them), all orders that added the 1500 text messages to the plan are being held up because the 1500 text messages is coming up as an invalid option/conflict. If I had just picked a plan it would have gone right through. Has everyone else experiencing hold ups added that 1500 txting package? Lets see if we can figure this out!

- Eric

I'm porting from Verizon and I added the 1500 text message option and so far I'm completely hosed.

So there's one more data point for ya.

[Lazernet]

Ok, I get that some people are annoyed, but people also have to get some perspective on things. It's a very big rollout for AT&T and Apple. You can expect things to go bad for some people on the first evening of sale. And if it were me, I would probably be frustrated too, but I would have enough patients to give Apple and AT&T at least 24 hours. I think it's fare to give Apple and AT&T a little time to correct things. Ok, it's difficult to be patient when you have this beautiful device in front of you that you are aching to use. (Or maybe when this is your only phone.) But people get pissed way too easily. If people get pissed for having to wait a day for a problem to be corrected, then I don't know where the world is going.

I see your point, and I personally am just a bit dissapointed but not annoyed per say. However, there are SEVERAL people on this forum and I'm sure countless others who rely on their phones and there is no excuse for AT&T disabling their old phones long in advance of turning on the new one. Anyone out there who is a doctor in the medical profession (on call) or needs their phone for work reasons... I feel for you. Thankfully (?), I only have to sit here and wait for it all day...

Being in IT myself, I can understand this situation... and you have to give them time of course, but I'm at the lovely point where my phone is off and my new one doesn't yet work... so I'm up a certain creek without a paddle. Thankfully, I'll just float along and enjoy the view until I get my iPaddle... so I can activate my iBrick... before I say iQuit. :P

- Eric

[petsounds]

Waiting 14 hours and counting.

Got off the phone with AT&T rep not long ago. She said "you should expect to wait 24-48 hours." No, I shouldn't *expect* to wait at all. This is not an Apple Experience. Something is seriously botched here.

The *really* frustrating part is that I can't even begin activation on the other iPhone until the first one is done, since they are under the FamilyTalk plan.

[tranced25]

Family plan & 1500 text here.... T-Mobile port. Still no email, or use of my iToy.

I wonder how long till people start returning?

[hamedatl]

Blah, my Verizon account stopped working, the time that they told me it'd be activated by has past, and now I'm calling them on Skype.

[kop]

Ok, I get that some people are annoyed, but people also have to get some perspective on things. It's a very big rollout for AT&T and Apple. You can expect things to go bad for some people on the first evening of sale. And if it were me, I would probably be frustrated too, but I would have enough patients to give Apple and AT&T at least 24 hours. I think it's fare to give Apple and AT&T a little time to correct things. Ok, it's difficult to be patient when you have this beautiful device in front of you that you are aching to use. (Or maybe when this is your only phone.) But people get pissed way too easily. If people get pissed for having to wait a day for a problem to be corrected, then I don't know where the world is going.

Yes it is a big rollout, and an assorted problem would be understandable, but this does not seem to be a small problem, but rather a widespread and pervasive problem.

If the interest in the iPhone was significantly greater than expected, I could also see that there would be problems, but when Apple is putting out press releases that they expect to sell 3 million phones this weekend, at least 1 million of which would go Friday night alone, and Steve Jobs in an interview yesterday was inferring that he thought they would sell out yesterday, then I don't think it is fair to say that they are overwhelmed, rather their planning was just underwhelming.

They expected millions of activations in the first 24 hours, that is what happened, and they were completely unprepared for it.

Had I gotten the phone for $99 then maybe I would be more patient, but for $599 I don't expect to have to wait until Sunday to get a phone I purchased on Friday, activated.

[pkpkast]

I finally got the activation email this morning after 10 hours. I am actually posting this on my iPhone :) . Be patient, it is still worth the wait. Get your contacts and bookmarks in order while you wait. The syncing is flawless.

[xIsak07]

When I connect the iPhone to iTunes it gives me an error message that reads:

"iTunes could not connect to the iPhone 'iPhone' because an unknown error occurred (0xE8000025)."

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I upgraded to SP2 a few days ago . . . what is the problem? could anyone help me out?

My System Properties are as follows:

System:
Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Computer:
AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor
3000+
2.00 GHz, 512 MB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

[SNF Mixer]

When you get the "magic email" saying your registration is complete, do you have to go a link, or does the iPhone just spring to life and the iTunes gate opens?

What happens?

[NIHMacAddict]

Family plan & 1500 text here.... T-Mobile port. Still no email, or use of my iToy.

I signed up for new number, 900 min, 1500 Text messages .... no email yet. Seems to be a pattern. Does anyone know if we can restart registration somehow?

Is anyone stuck that did not request 1500 text message option?

[tranced25]

Yes it is a big rollout, and an assorted problem would be understandable, but this does not seem to be a small problem, but rather a widespread and pervasive problem.

If the interest in the iPhone was significantly greater than expected, I could also see that there would be problems, but when Apple is putting out press releases that they expect to sell 3 million phones this weekend, at least 1 million of which would go Friday night alone, and Steve Jobs in an interview yesterday was inferring that he thought they would sell out yesterday, then I don't think it is fair to say that they are overwhelmed, rather their planning was just underwhelming.

They expected millions of activations in the first 24 hours, that is what happened, and they were completely unprepared for it.

Had I gotten the phone for $99 then maybe I would be more patient, but for $599 I don't expect to have to wait until Sunday to get a phone I purchased on Friday, activated.

AMEN!

[slappy32]

19 hours and counting for me.

To the guy with the Windows problem: Did you update to iTune 7.3?

[Nagooya]

I signed up for new number, 900 min, 1500 Text messages .... no email yet. Seems to be a pattern. Does anyone know if we can restart registration somehow?

Is anyone stuck that did not request 1500 text message option?

My brother's is stuck. It's been about 15 hours, and it doesnt seem to good...I just hope mine doesn't take as long, and my other brothers. We got a family plan without the 1500 text option.

[jmacdonagh]

Well, I think the problem may be in the 1500 texts upgrade. Also, family plans are having major issues right now as well... Are we all in one of those boats? Folks?

- Eric

Individual plan + 1500 messages and having a problem. But I think mine might have to do with my port request zip code.

[Catgofire]

I signed up for new number, 900 min, 1500 Text messages .... no email yet. Seems to be a pattern. Does anyone know if we can restart registration somehow?

Is anyone stuck that did not request 1500 text message option?

Yes, there are people stuck who didn't request the 1500 text message option.

I, however, am on the family plan, switching from T-Mobile, with the 1500 option. Our main line (my dad's) got activated after about 45 minutes. For every other line, it's been over 14 hours and still nothing.

[plumbingandtech]

How are you using it w/o activation.

-mark

I think it is activated but but not on ATT's phone network yet.

So I can do everything on the iphone except make calls.

[sixth]

i didn't sign up for additional text messages and im going on 18 hours waiting on activation...
and i am porting a number from verizon

[plumbingandtech]

When you get the "magic email" saying your registration is complete, do you have to go a link, or does the iPhone just spring to life and the iTunes gate opens?

What happens?

This is what I did.

I pulled out the iphone from the dock.
Turned it off. (hold down top right button.)
Did the slider to turn it off. (edited from on)
Waited 2 secs.
Turned it on.
Plugged it into the dock and iphones saw it.

You may not need to do that but after 15 hours I just wanted to make sure.

[TurboPGT]

I did too...1500 texts...nothing but 20 hrs of lies from AT&T.

There has to be legal recourse for us.

[djbeeker]

20 hours from activation now. Current AT&T Customer, no new number, just add data plan and unlimited text to my plan. Insanity.

[ichris2]

Anybody no how to cancel an activation and start over?

[hamedatl]

AT&T supervisor just told me their systems crashed and they can't access our info to see if its been activated yet or not. Not sure if this was the call center in Bombay...... :rolleyes:

[SNF Mixer]

This is what I did.

I pulled out the iphone from the dock.
Turned it off. (hold down top right button.)
Did the slider to turn it off. (edited from on)
Waited 2 secs.
Turned it on.
Plugged it into the dock and iphones saw it.

You may not need to do that but after 15 hours I just wanted to make sure.


But you don't hafta visit a link?

[sixth]

Anybody no how to cancel an activation and start over?

im in the process of doing that now... the number i called is 1-877-777-4189

[NIHMacAddict]

I don't fault there being an unforeseen problem with activation on this scale. But what I do fault Apple and AT&T for is not issuing some news about the whole thing. They should have issued, at least on the web, an item that they are aware there is a problem, that they are working on it, and that resolution can be expected in [x] hours/days/weeks. At least an acknowledgment would make me feel a lot better and more patient. And... I bet it would relieve the AT&T support line of thousands of calls that they can't do anything about right now.

It's so tiring that companies and individuals can't just up and say, "Yup, we screwed up." or, "Yes, there's an unanticipated problem and we're working our butts off trying to fix it." Silence is second only to denial of problems in terms of public relations fiascos.

[M3Jedi77]

Im actually posting from inside the AT&T store right now. I got here at 10 right when they opened and spoke with customer service. He told me the same thing all the others have told me...Then he ended up calling at 10:30 the same numbers Ive been calling. Hes still in the backroom right now on the phone with them so hopefully itll work. nvm it didnt

[sabr]

i purchased 2 iphones. i have a family plan, and have been an existing cingular customer for years.

i also tried to upgrade the text to 1500.

15hours and counting... ugh

[avkills]

Apple assured me that the email in question has no link which unlocks the phone, so it looks as though you just need to leave it connected to iTunes and wait for the final message of truth. :(

Apple and ATT ****ed this one up big time.

-mark

[The Man]

I see your point, and I personally am just a bit dissapointed but not annoyed per say. However, there are SEVERAL people on this forum and I'm sure countless others who rely on their phones and there is no excuse for AT&T disabling their old phones long in advance of turning on the new one. Anyone out there who is a doctor in the medical profession (on call) or needs their phone work work reasons... I feel for you. Thankfully (?), I only have to sit here and wait for it all day... - Eric

Yes, if you truly rely on your phone, then you have the right to be totally frustrated. But if you relied on your phone, you would probably not want to get an iPhone or activate it on the day of rollout. Yes, it's hard to resist, but try to resist if you are in that position. Even if you expect Apple and AT&T to do their job like they should, resist nonetheless! Things can go wrong. And the only thing between insanity and happiness is patients.

[jbomber]

Does anyone know if AT&T is sending out emails in batches or just as they're ready to go?

I've been waiting for 15+ hours after 'activation' for that email confirmation, and I'm seriously going to scream someone's damn head off if/when this phone isn't activated in the next few hours. I've been on the phone with 4 different people and no one's got it together.

Most recently I had some ******* named Marco insist that the problem is Apple's fault and tried to throw a lot of fake jargon at me. Total incompetence...

This is a fiasco at this point. I DARE AT&T to try and charge me for the last day.

[phigment]

Hey, I'm stuck and didn't do the 1500 minute option. Still waiting.

[TurboPGT]

Yes, if you truly rely on your phone, then you have the right to be totally frustrated. But if you relied on your phone, you would probably not want to get an iPhone or activate it on the day of rollout. Yes, it's hard to resist, but try to resist if you are in that position. Even if you expect Apple and AT&T to do their job like they should, resist nonetheless! Things can go wrong. And the only thing between insanity and happiness is patients.

*Patience

No...everything, just no. This entire thing is a disaster and is totally unacceptable.

[sixth]

im on the phone with a lady now who is supposedly resetting my account. she said there was a "glitch" in the system last night when the account was pushed through with the rate plans...
about 2 minutes after she told me this, i got this e-mail:

Your current AT&T rate plan is not compatible with the iPhone.


Please contact AT&T at 877-419-4500 to select a new rate plan and complete your activation.

im still on the phone with her, she is trying to get someone on the phone to find out what needs to be done to reset the account.

[nkkumi01]

I'm really confused, this iTunes activation was a bad idea. My new att service is up and running(the guy at the att store made and received calls with my iphone sim card on his blackjack. but when i put it in my iphone it's still at the inintial screen. Who fault is my siuation, apple or att. i mean my service is up and running so what is the problem.

[Nagooya]

this is all AT&T,

15.5 hours and counting

[nkkumi01]

this is all AT&T,

15.5 hours and counting

But doesn't the itunes server run thru apple's servers, cuz like I said on any other phone, my iPhone sim card works perfectly. I would think this is coming from apple's side.

[tranced25]

I'll take a working display model until you can fix mine, thanks......:D

[Furgster]

AHHH! i want to use my iPhone!!!

:( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[kop]

Yes, if you truly rely on your phone, then you have the right to be totally frustrated. But if you relied on your phone, you would probably not want to get an iPhone or activate it on the day of rollout. Yes, it's hard to resist, but try to resist if you are in that position. Even if you expect Apple and AT&T to do their job like they should, resist nonetheless! Things can go wrong. And the only thing between insanity and happiness is patients.

The phones sold out. You could either buy the phones last night, hoping they worked, since they were, oh, expecting to sell 3,000,000 this weekend, and you would have thought they'd be prepared.

Or, you could have waited until they got phones back in a 2-4 weeks, and have the same problem with the second wave. The supply isn't going to normalize for a couple of months, and some of us don't have phones that would live that long.

Quit telling us to be patient about waiting for a $600 phone to activate multiple days after purchase.

[Lazernet]

As many have mentioned -- it seems that the cutovers are being completed but Apple is failing to send out the final email that it is complete... and flip whatever internal switch they have to let the phone finish activating/sync up. I think in this rollout, apple has to share a bit of blame for some of this... perhaps soon they will integrate their systems better.

I just called AT&T, they confirmed that they are done... I have no verizon phone, but apple hasn't let me new one activate even though the SIM card, etc are all setup in their system. They are transfering me to Apple to see if they can push me through at all or at least tell me a more accurate time when they will let me use my new toy.

- Eric

[M3Jedi77]

Please will somebody NOT ignore this post:

Is the number 866-907-3484 open today? I need to get a hold of the people there to fix my account but somebody told me theyre closed for the weekend and someone else told me theyre open.

[Furgster]

The phones sold out. You could either buy the phones last night, hoping they worked, since they were, oh, expecting to sell 3,000,000 this weekend, and you would have thought they'd be prepared.

Or, you could have waited until they got phones back in a 2-4 weeks, and have the same problem with the second wave. The supply isn't going to normalize for a couple of months, and some of us don't have phones that would live that long.

Quit telling us to be patient about waiting for a $600 phone to activate multiple days after purchase.

ya, AT&T had to have known how many phones there would have been and been able to prepare for it, but obviously they didnt

[The Man]

*Patience

No...everything, just no. This entire thing is a disaster and is totally unacceptable.

Thanks, English is not my native language.

[hamedatl]

Haha, I called the same AT&T number I've been calling today, and they're like "oh, I am in the west coast, I cant open up accounts from Atlanta, let me transfer you to the east coast number" oh boyyyyyyyyyyyy

[mattportner]

12 hours and counting....:mad:

this is dissapointing.:(

on a seperate note, what does slide for emergency do? does it call 911?

[SNF Mixer]

this is all AT&T,

15.5 hours and counting

I am not an AT&T fan, but if my iPhone SIM card works in another phone, AT&T has done its part - I can access their network. The missing link is somewhere after AT&T, maybe with the AT&T/iTunes link. I have been on the phone all day. Frustrated beyond description.

[Furgster]

I am not an AT&T fan, but if my iPhone SIM card works in another phone, AT&T has done its part - I can access their network. The missing link is somewhere after AT&T, maybe with the AT&T/iTunes link. I have been on the phone all day. Frustrated beyond description.

you arent the only one

[SixSlinger]

In the past 24 hours, I have gone from really excited, to REALLY excited, to really anxious, to really disappointed, to just plain pissed off. It really helps the wait to know that others are having the same problems.....SOON we will all have functioning iPhones!!! (maybe)

[sdotbailey]

OK, need a bit of help

I had to go grab a new SIM card.

Put it in and hooked the phone back up to my mac. When iTunes started it seemed to start the entire registration process over.

I can't figure it now - am I an existing customer or still new? The guy at the store found me. The people on the phone find me. So, I think I'm a customer now.

I'm on the phone with customer service right now - they don't seem to get the point of what I'm saying here. The girl this morning told me that if I got my new SIM everything would be fine - well, that's not true at the moment. These people now are trying to tell me that I may have to wait until my number gets ported over tonight.

(now, the people aren't helping, acting kind of bitchy now. ok, it's official, they're being ****s now, tired of hearing people call. **** that, they knew this **** was going to happen. they're telling me that I should just wait until after 8 - i.e. not call back!!!! what the **** man!!!!)

[paja]

This is a total nightmare. Hours of wasted time and frustration.

A miserable Apple experience.

You think they would have been better prepared for the activation onslaught.

Just mind boggling.

:mad:

[pulpdoc]

Going on 20 hours. Trying to port from Verizon. Spoke to three different techs over the last day. Nothing they can do---"just be patient". Worse than watching grass grow. millions of unproducive hours in America this last day.

[Big-TDI-Guy]

Emergency slide just opens the dial pad -- you can't complete ANY phone # except for 911 or other emergency #s.

Sliding the slider won't call anything.

Yeah, I got that bored with my iBrick. I'm dangerous like that.

Edit* The iBrick IS good for playing some dial-tone tunes, I just gotta learn that 80s song.... "It's gonna take-a tiiiime- a whole lotta precious time - to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it riiiiight!" Got my mind set-on-you. *clap clap, clap clap*

[SteveM8]

877-800-3701

Press option 3

Enter your activation ID that you recieved in the email.

It will tell you the status. If you have a problem with activation, if its being processed or if it has been activated.

My wifes was done at 3am 7 hours after I started the process. Mine is going on 17 hours and nothing and the automated line tells me its being processed. It says my wifes # is complete and activated.

Try that # and see what it says.

[uNext]

Apple and their close ways
why do activation like this?

on a freaking windows phone you swap the sim card and tada
the **** is up and running in less then 10 seconds.

I am so pissed and i cant blame att because their sim is working onm y curve
is the iphones apples fault-Steve suck a fat one you greedy basterd.

WOW what an iBrick

[plumbingandtech]

But you don't hafta visit a link?

nope. itunes just sees that it has been activated and then steps you thru your first sync.

[ShellyFM]

Based on the info we received from AT&T when we called, I'm trying to determing the common link between the activation problems.

I started a poll to try to see if we can pinpoint the problem(s).

[Cybergypsy]

wow both of mine were online withen 5 minutes last night. letter in 20 minutes of starting....

[SteveM8]

My sim is activated, but Itunes will not activate my phone. This leads me to believe it is an Apple problem and its a HUGE problem.

[plumbingandtech]

Apple and their close ways
why do activation like this?

on a freaking windows phone you swap the sim card and tada
the **** is up and running in less then 10 seconds.

I am so pissed and i cant blame att because their sim is working onm y curve
is the iphones apples fault-Steve suck a fat one you greedy basterd.

And you know this is the SAME type of sim card as Cheapo-phone?

No. Somethings different to this sim and 250k americans just slammed the system since last nite.

Patience from someone who waited 15 hrs.

[varscsak]

on a seperate note, what does slide for emergency do? does it call 911?

It brings you to a dial pad to dial a number.

[Psycho]

My sympathies to everyone having activation problems. Unfortunately, I believe this was predicted back in January. Anyone who has had the misfortune of having to deal with Cingular/AT&T in the past could have seen this coming.

[The Man]

I don't fault there being an unforeseen problem with activation on this scale. But what I do fault Apple and AT&T for is not issuing some news about the whole thing. They should have issued, at least on the web, an item that they are aware there is a problem, that they are working on it, and that resolution can be expected in [x] hours/days/weeks. At least an acknowledgment would make me feel a lot better and more patient. And... I bet it would relieve the AT&T support line of thousands of calls that they can't do anything about right now.

Yes, I agree, but even then, it takes a company time to find out where the fault lies. Or maybe, there are different areas of fault. If there is a widespread issue and things persist beyond a reasonable timeframe without some official statement from Apple or AT&T, yes, you are absolutely right. But is it unreasonable to give them some time to correct things? Only if it was a phone of $100, other people say, is that when patience is allowed? But when it is $599, patience should be abandoned? Or problems should never have happened or be resolved instantly? But problems do arise, even in billion dollar space missions. That maybe no excuse and I'm not excusing Apple or AT&T, they have not given all the customers the best experience. All I'm saying is that people have lost all patience in this day and age. Now we're getting closer to that 24 hour target, so you have the right to lose some of your patience. :p Go ahead. ;)

[robhedin]

Does anyone have any idea what these "magic emails" look like?

I'm an existing Cingular customer with Family plan, trying to change phones. I've got the "AT&T is now processing your activation" email from iTunes last night, and just got an email from AT&T 1/2 hour ago "Information about your AT&T plan" with links to AT&T manage your account (but account has nothing about the iPhone)...

Spoke with several customer service reps, no one seems to have any idea what's going on-- the last person I spoke to said "our servers are delayed and we can't give you an estimate as to when it will be activated".

Thanks!

rob.

[eric09]

avkills, keep posting man. i'm in the same boat as you (used my @mac.com AppleID, which doesn't receive email), so i will never get any of those emails that are supposedly coming through...

[plumbingandtech]

Does anyone have any idea what these "magic emails" look like?

I'm an existing Cingular customer with Family plan, trying to change phones. I've got the "AT&T is now processing your activation" email from iTunes last night, and just got an email from AT&T 1/2 hour ago "Information about your AT&T plan" with links to AT&T manage your account (but account has nothing about the iPhone)...

Spoke with several customer service reps, no one seems to have any idea what's going on-- the last person I spoke to said "our servers are delayed and we can't give you an estimate as to when it will be activated".

Thanks!

rob.

the subject says:

Mobile Number Transfer Complete.

The emails are like the others but your number is in orange in the middle of the email.

[boeingair]

One lady just told me that putting the iPhone SIM in another phone destroys it. Hmm...

[varscsak]

I wasn't frustrated really at all until I called ATT. I called got someone who didn't really know anything transferred me to Apple...wasn't patient enough to wait out the hold queue. :)

Then I called the number in the email...option 3, got someone, asked them to verify the account, she said that it's being activated "right now" and it will only be a couple of minutes. Got off the phone, got an email that says "We're sorry. AT&T has identified a problem with the information you provided".

Called ATT back to figure out what the problem was. I unfortunatley mentioned that I used to be a Cingular customer who is now porting back from Verizon and she put me on hold. She said that that's exactly what the problem is the old account is confusing the system (or it's users...I'm not sure which) but it was being actively worked on and that it could take 24 hours.

Oye. I feel like I need to keep calling back to keep the process moving.

--Lon (Waiting 16 hours and counting)

[paja]

AT&T activation works! My iPhone SIM card is activated, but somehow iTunes is waitng for some kind of confirmation before you can use the iPhone.

Why, what's the problem?

This is BS. I've bought new AT&T phones before and just swapped SIM cards and the phone worked. What is the BS with iTunes, Apple?

What's up with this retarded activation process?

:mad:

[Furgster]

I just got my third email that says: We are currently processing your account...blah blah blah.

How much longer until i get the magical fourth email?( I'm on 16 hours right now...blechhh.):( :(

[ShellyFM]

Based on the info we received from AT&T when we called, I'm trying to determing the common link between the activation problems.

I started a poll to try to see if we can pinpoint the problem(s).

I guess it would help if I posted the poll link. :)

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=322720

[Donald V]

Has anyone that bought a phone today had any problems activating it? I was thinking of getting one today if the problem are only for people that tried it last night...

Donald :)

[Furgster]

this is crazy!

16 hours!!!!!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[ShellyFM]

Has anyone that bought a phone today had any problems activating it? I was thinking of getting one today if the problem are only for people that tried it last night...

Donald :)

We bought two iPhones yesterday. On one, I had problems getting past the billing info screen due to issues with my address and their system not recognizing it in their coverage area. So, I finished letting the iPhone charge over night.

This morning at about 8am EST I was able to complete the activation process as a new customer immediately. (I used a different address.) No wait time. It activated and did the sync right away.

The other iPhone is for an existing AT&T account. We started the process a little before 9pm last night. We're still waiting for the activation e-mail.

[slappy32]

20 hours and counting...

Now the MacRumors Forum server is saying it is too busy...What gives? You guys should have known there would have been iPhone activation problems and beefed up the server! http://images.macrumors.com/vb/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[boeingair]

I have an excellent agent on the phone now--she says she is opening a "Commitment", which sounds like a trouble ticket to me.

Does anyone know more specifically what that is?

[SteveM8]

I have a feeling that Im going to have to call, cancel the activation and restart as others who did this are getting their phone activated in a few minutes. Insane, and what a waste of my day.

[Lazernet]

I'm now at 20 hours of waiting for this damned thing to activate because I have yet to receive my email. I've called apple, I've called AT&T, and all I'm getting now is - be patient, Apple is incredibly locked up right now because of all the activations - directly from the person I talked to at Apple. Perhaps they should have consulted with Microsoft about how they handle Windows Activation ;-)...

So, I'm left with constantly checking my email... everytime a new spam message comes in - I get all excited... then I realize its an ad for viagra. Who needs the viagra... the potential of having an email from apple alone does it for me!

- Eric

[/dev/toaster]

Looks like my activation is only getting worse. My account is totally screwed up, its apparently missing most of the important information. They are trying to recreate it, but not having any luck. To make matters worse, they can't just cancel the order and re-start it because I would lose the number I am trying to port! Which, I can not even begin to explain how pissed I will be if that is the case.

I am now sitting at 15+ hours.

[tranced25]

Just got a 3rd email from AT&T:

"We are currently processing your order. Your order number is ******. You will receive an additional email when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone"

Blah Blah Blah, just get er done already.....

[Furgster]

I have an excellent agent on the phone now--she says she is opening a "Commitment", which sounds like a trouble ticket to me.

Does anyone know more specifically what that is?

i have never heard of that

[Furgster]

Just got a 3rd email from AT&T:

"We are currently processing your order. Your order number is ******. You will receive an additional email when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone"

Blah Blah Blah, just get er done already.....

ya, how long does the processing take? i just got that email also

[SNF Mixer]

I boxed up the iPhone and was headed to the Apple store. Thought, "I'll give it one more try." Connected cable and bam, I was in.

That's all I know for now. Time to play.

Thanks for waiting with me!

[paja]

I wonder how many new to Apple will be returning their iPhones on Monday. I'm sure these poor folks are totally befuddled and probably believe that their iphones are defective. I can just imagine all the phone calls to AT&T.

Way to go Apple! I'm sure the press will be all over this. What a MAJOR SCREW UP!

[sabr]

16 hours later, and i get my first "Thank you for your recent purchase" with the order number.

i guess that's a positive sign, but shouldn't i have gotten that email 15 hours ago? talking to both ATT & apple customer service is just an exercise in futility.

hope it works soon...

[ichris2]

The real problem is Apple is not a "phone" company. Granted they have built a great phone but they should have turned over the activation over to AT&T. By going through all their secret bullshi* Apple has made AT&T look like a bunch of Ass*oles. Executives at both companies should be fired for thinking this was a good idea.

[slappy32]

Just got an email from AT&T:

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is xxxxxx
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.

So that's something. In the long run, I'll forget all about this in a week and the wait is insignificant to the time I'll be enjoying the iPhone.

Slappy
Still waiting for my JesusPhone to resurrect...

[Omegamanstyle]

19 hours after my iTunes activation, complete with email confirmations that the iPhone had a new (ported) number and the account was active, I am making calls. As much as I would like to blame AT&T for this blunder, I must take responsibility myself. I saw on another forum that some iPhones don't "see" their activation until the power is cycled. Being a dolt and a bit groggy from the wait in line and long work week, etc, I saw the iPhone go to sleep and assumed enough of a power cycle had occured. And, given the lack of full user manual, I never fully understood the process for a FULL power cycle.

Try this:
Hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the slider pops up and says slide to turn off. Slide away. I left mine off for about 20 seconds. Then you hit the Sleep/Wake button again to turn it back on. A full booting up happens and voila! there is that g**d***ed !%$#&^%#!!! TXT message that I'd been waiting for for 19 hours telling me my ***** iPhone is active.

So I'm a tool for not trying that sooner. Oh well. And FYI: I'm was a Verizon wireless family share plan holder (out of contract), porting over 2 numbers to the AT&T family plan with one new Motorola phone and one iPhone. Who knows where the slow down occurs.

[fireworks501]

Got on with AT&T. Apparently they had a bunch of errors last night but have fixed them.

Anyone who had issues registering last night should call them (if you're still waiting for the email) and they'll push it out to you and activate it manually.

Syncing my stuff now. Stoked. This was worth it. :D

Nick

[phigment]

OH it's news worthy already....

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyId=12&articleId=9026021&intsrc=hm_topic

[Catgofire]

I have an excellent agent on the phone now--she says she is opening a "Commitment", which sounds like a trouble ticket to me.

Does anyone know more specifically what that is?

Are you sure that's not your girlfriend asking for marriage or something?

[paja]

They need to state in big letters that "activation may take anywhere from 5 minutes to 48 hours".

They should have done this at 6PM on the 29th or a day or two earlier.

[tranced25]

Just got an email from AT&T:

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is xxxxxx
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.

So that's something. In the long run, I'll forget all about this in a week and the wait is insignificant to the time I'll be enjoying the iPhone.

Slappy
Still waiting for my JesusPhone to resurrect...

Just got one too. See above. I'm thinking it's an impromptu email to help ease the wait times by letting us know that they haven't forgotten about us.... Problem is, we should be getting our activation email instead, and in a hurry.

[Kinetic]

Ok 16 odd hours later and my phone is finally activated! I'm so happy I could crap. It's now finally syncing. Let's hope the rest goes smoothly.

Oh and one word of warning. One of the Apple reps said that if you do a restore on the phone you'd have to go through the activation process again. So be careful!!

[TC Schiller]

Got on with AT&T. Apparently they had a bunch of errors last night but have fixed them.

Anyone who had issues registering last night should call them (if you're still waiting for the email) and they'll push it out to you and activate it manually.

Syncing my stuff now. Stoked. This was worth it. :D

Nick

Which number did you call?

[tranced25]

I boxed up the iPhone and was headed to the Apple store. Thought, "I'll give it one more try." Connected cable and bam, I was in.

That's all I know for now. Time to play.

Thanks for waiting with me!

Did you get your activation email beforehand?!?! Or ever?!?!

[SpyderFCS]

I'm dying because I've only received one e-mail that said 'your activation will require additional time' and that's it.....

Going on 21 hours...

[SNF Mixer]

Did you get your activation email beforehand?!?! Or ever?!?!


Never got an email. I used a dot mac name I use for iChat. I don't get email there. The phone was off for 10 minutes while I looked at an unboxing video, trying to see how things went back in. Then I opened lid and reconnected with my normal iPod cable. It lit right up.

Now sync-ing which seems to take way too long, but we'll see.

Hope that helps.

[tranced25]

I'm dying because I've only received one e-mail that said 'your activation will require additional time' and that's it.....

Going on 21 hours...

Holy S@*%!:confused:

[Zolk]

After having problems activating, I called AT&T and got my rate plan changed to an iPhone plan. They also asked for my SIM and IMEI number. According to their records, everything should be set but the phone is still not activated and iTunes still says "Your activation requires additional time to complete."

The AT&T rep's only explanation is that things are taking longer due to the high demand. He's supposed to call me back in about an hour to check the status.

[kemer]

12.5 hours so far. Sounds like 15-16 is the magic number.

HOWEVER.... I talked to ATT and they said to leave the phone plugged in, and computer turned on. Sounds weird to me... but... I kind of found that out, after I removed the sim card so I could put it into my old phone so I wasn't stranded all day without a phone.

So, does that mean I'm going to have to start all over again!?!?


... very, very disappointing ...


anyone have the number of a rep that will actually open a trouble ticket instead of making me wait 24 hours first?

[tranced25]

Never got an email. I used a dot mac name I use for iChat. I don't get email there. The phone was off for 10 minutes while I looked at an unboxing video, trying to see how things went back in. Then I opened lid and reconnected with my normal iPod cable. It lit right up.

Now sync-ing which seems to take way too long, but we'll see.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, it does... Lucky:)

[ShockerMan4x4]

I originally first applied for the service at about 7:30pm last night. It is not 3:30pm the next day and I still don't have service.

AND I was a Cingular (AT&T) customer and just upgraded my phone and kept my old phone number. Still freaking nothing.

[slappy32]

I'm dying because I've only received one e-mail that said 'your activation will require additional time' and that's it.....

Going on 21 hours...

Spyder, hang in there. I'm 20+ hours myself and just got the order number email.

On a totally unrelated note, Apple has changed the videos on their iChat video test accounts to be iPhone ads.

AIM accounts:
appleu3test01
appleu3test02
appleu3test03

Slappy

[jmacdonagh]

Update on my situation.

My Verizon billing address was in Arizona, although the area code for the number was an Idaho number. Aparently this is a no-no, which is why my first request failed after 4 hours. My second request is on it's way (since 2 am this morning), and all the addresses should be in sync.

Here's to hoping!

[nicoleva]

I'm really not convinced I'm even in a queue.

I've called ATT and I was told that if I pass the 24 hour mark I need to call ba

Has anyone with a 20 hour wait got activated yet???

(and my old verizon phone is still active)

[Furgster]

30 mins after 3rd email, phone was activated now on 2nd one

[SpyderFCS]

I'm really not convinced I'm even in a queue.

I've called ATT and I was told that if I pass the 24 hour mark I need to call ba

Has anyone with a 20 hour wait got activated yet???

(and my old verizon phone is still active)

I'm starting to think the same....

[SteveM8]

ya, how long does the processing take? i just got that email also

I got that email 18 hours ago...still no activation

[Bradley W]

_

[slappy32]

I'm really not convinced I'm even in a queue.

I've called ATT and I was told that if I pass the 24 hour mark I need to call ba

Has anyone with a 20 hour wait got activated yet???

(and my old verizon phone is still active)

I'm at about 20.5 hours and still a no go. However I did receive my order number email after the 20th hour.

[SteveM8]

My verizon phone was shut off and rendered useless 7 hours ago. I am without a phone at all. Im sure they will all be closed tomorrow and MOnday I will have to raise hell at the apple store. This is beyond patience, 18 hours and nothing but yet my 2nd Iphone (wifes) became active after 7 hours on the same plan, and switching from verizon also.

Unreal.

[kop]

After waiting over 2 hours to talk with someone at Apple in Advanced IPhone support, found a very helpful and apologetic guy. He had me try a bunch of things to see if it was a hardware issue or if we could get it going.

First, he had me back set my clock on my mac, then restart my mac, then open itunes, then plug back in my phone - but still "Your activation requires more time to complete.

Next, he had me do a RAM clear or something like that on my computer. I shutdown, then held immediately after powering back up, held the "p", "r", "option", and "apple" keys until I heard a second chime. After starting up, I started itunes again, then connected my phone and the same message showed.

Then, while I was on the phone with the Apple guy, I got the email that was just mentioned, from AT&T, saying thanks for my purchase, AT&T is activating my phone, and I'll receive a later email when it is done.

The guy from Apple said after running through our trials, that he didn't think that there was an issue with the phone, but conceded that "the two companies" had dropped the ball, and it was their fault on their end that things are being held up. Couldn't have been nicer, but said there wasn't much that could be done. Said he understood if I got frustrated and wanted to take it back, but he said he would call me tomorrow, to see if things were up and running by then, and we would go from there.

Still waiting, but thought I'd share the latest.

[sumsugar]

After many calls (most of which were not convincing) I just passed the 20 Hour mark. WTF

[Catgofire]

http://www.apple.com/iphone/usingiphone/activation_small.html

LMAO. Watch it again in light of recent events. It's funny as hell.

[rxden]

spoke with att apple like 15 times - i am a verizon port - i am convinced they are all clueless - basically been bouncing around - yep i am in que - yeh right - so i had been bounced over to apple and the apple rep suggested we cancel and open a new account without porting and port later - so he puts me on hold to get att on the phone to conference - so the phone clicked a few times - then i hear the apple rep talking with the att rep (they thought i dropped) saying yeah we dont really no what is going on - we are so new on this and didnt receive training - so i listened on - then just about 5 minutes into there conversation the att rep says ok let me get the customer back on the line - so i chimed in and said i am on the line and now dont have a warm fuzzy feeling about this -- they then went on to tell me att is having problems porting from verizon - be patient - f that - i am sick of being paitient - i was patient online last night for 4 hours - dropped 600 beans and cant even turn the friggin thing on - come n guys -

[NIHMacAddict]

For those of you who finally got activated after the "waiting" message... can you tell us how many emails you received (and from who) and what the general content of each was?

I received one email immediately after going through the iTunes activation process last night, from Apple, stating that AT&T is now processing my activation. That's it...

What's the general sequence of emails preceding activation?

[ciscokidd]

first post on the boards.... figured i'd contribute to the amazing view and post count to this thread since i too waited in line yesterday for an iPhone only to be plagued by a horrible activation process..... i too want my activation fee refunded!!!

purchase time: 7:00cst
1st activation email stating it was in process: 7:40cst
after calling at around 9:15pm to find out why my phone still hasn't been activated i was also disconnected several times with att tech and iphone activation specialists

after talking to at least 6 people and still no progress i recieve another email from iPhone_Activation_Support@att.com saying my rate plan was not compatible with the iPhone (i had an old att plan with SMS and a company discount.. which the first lady i talked to said she went in and removed all of that stuff)

this one had another phone number and an 'activation id'... when calling this number the guy didn't know of any activation id.... i guess its an order number? anyway he said everything looked good and it could take up to 24 hrs

its now going on to 20hrs and still no final activation confirmation... this is rediculous... i haven't called since last night at 11pm-ish .. but will it do any good?? probably not

[gcrowell]

So after 19 hours and 3 minutes, I got the magic email. Click the link, and iTunes opens, connects to the iPhone, and all works.

So my guess is the email itself is the activation mechanism, if you have the "wait more time" message. No physical link to Apple from AT&T is required; the code to turn on your iPhone via iTunes is in the link you are sent. The link is to an apple.com server, with a WebObjects URL that contains, among other things, your iPhone serial number, ICCID, and your mobile phone number. That server connects to your iPhone via your iTunes account, and turns the damn thing on.

Bottom line, IMHO, the problem is a backup at AT&T getting the email out, not Apples servers.

For what it's worth (and it could be pure coincidence), the email showed up right after I got the AT&T rep to put me over to the Synchronos department. These are the technical folks who make sure everything is actually correct on your account for SIM and service activation on AT&T's network.

Now to actually get to play with my new toy :D

[/dev/toaster]

Why do they even bother asking for your phone number in the even you get disconnected. The past *2* calls didn't call me back, after 45 minutes waiting each time, 10 minutes to explain it, and 5 minutes trying to transfer me to the porting department. Would make my life a lot easier if they just gave me the damn direct number.

If this is not activated by 4pm ... I am going to the AT&T store and I am going to raise serious hell until this is solved. I am prepared to make an ass of my self in order to get this solved, which includes raising my voice loud enough that the entire store hears it.

I am not happy at all right now ... they are wasting more time delaying me then actually transferring me to someone who can fix the problem.

[varscsak]

The link is to an apple.com server, with a WebObjects URL that contains, among other things, your iPhone serial number, ICCID, and your mobile phone number. That server connects to your iPhone via your iTunes account, and turns the damn thing on.

I would love to see the url without all of your personal info in it.

[s1zeRo]

ok after talking with a nice lady at ATT and than getting handed over to apple. after 20 hours i am up and running just like that no emails or nothing.

my moms phoneis dead... but thats ok need to get a new sim.

good luck to you all that dont have it setup yet.

[DreaminDirector]

finally.

Here's the run down.

I was on T-Mobile.
I was transferring my number to the $59.99 plan on AT&T.
No add on SMS package.

I called 1800-826-7356 and asked if the number had been transfered.
After being on hold for about 10 minutes. She returned and said it has been ported over from T-Mobile to AT&T, then said I was in the cue to be activated.

She said the activation servers are backed up so it might take 2 to 3 hours.

So, from last night it's been about 17 hours.
From the second phone call, about 1 hours 45 minutes.


I have to admit, I was pissed I had to wait 17 hours, but now that I'm playing with the ex-iBrick, it's absolutely amazing and worth the wait.

Hang in there, people!

[rxden]

i was told i was ported and in que at 11am est - its now 4pm

[milkmanamok]

What would be really helpful is if people who have been successful with their activation could list out the steps which were involved, so others could have something to manage their expectations against. For example, order of emails received, approximate wait times for each step, etc. Alas, those who have activated are no doubt enjoying their new toy instead of reading this thread. . .

I used to work in product marketing for a major cellular carrier & appreciate that the activation process can be derailed by a number of factors: business plans, family plans, data plans, specific features, etc. It would would not surprise me if certain carriers are also indirectly obstructing the number porting process in order to malign public perception of the iPhone launch. While none would admit to it, there are numerous complexities where it is possible to inject the operational dysfunction people are currently experiencing. In the same manner, the iLECs pretty much put most CLECs out of business as they tried to launch competive offerings for residential DSL service.

I waited until the hubbub died down before going to the Apple store late last night before picking up my phone, I was in & out of the store in about three minutes. I am now waiting until tomorrow to attempt activation. I will be porting from Verizon and there are already a couple of strikes against me ( a number they won't want to release and a block on my credit reporting due to an identity theft issue). Hopefully the load on the activation process should die down by tomorrow. While I can hardly wait to activate my shiny new object of desire, it's ridiculous to think everyone can run into the arena at the same time without a few people getting trampled.

Anyhow, I'm very curious how widespread the Verizon activation issue is (35 pages of comments here suggests a lot) It would be helpful for a lot of people if someone documented the steps involved and others chimed in with any similarities or differences.

[LoganK]

Just got off the phone with ATT.

My Iphone was awaiting activation. My old phone's SIM card became inactive. So I called ATT to see what's going on. They instructed me to place Iphone's SIM into my old phone and it worked fine, that is the SIM was activated (ATT's part). I was told that the Itunes Servers are backed up, because as you know, Itunes has to activate the iphone. It may take up to 24 hrs before you get your turn at activation by Itunes. Once you get activation email from apple, put your iphone's SIM back into iphone, connect it to itunes this will finish the activation.

If all this is true it's not ATT, it's Apple's Itunes that is chocking.

[phigment]

can somebody please paste the activation linke without the personal information, so we can try putting in our own personal info to activate.

[eddiewouldcode]

15hrs now, guess what I got another email from ATT, sort of same as last nights one.

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is XXXXX
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.

Fingers crossed!!

[nt5672]

On hold with Apple Customers Service for 1.7 hours (ending 10:21 am cst) then just disconnected. It seems the answer to all problems is for Apple and AT&T to just stick their head in the sand and hope the problems will go away. 10 minutes and Apple who asked for my call back number just in cast has not called back after I was disconnected.

I would doubt that they could legally charge an open box fee for a return if they could NOT deliver the service/product you paid for in a reasonable time in spite of the policy. Something to do with (UCC) uniform commercial code.

They probably did the Friday 6 pm so they would have two days to get things fixed without hurting their stock prices.

Anyone have any better luck by visiting the Apple or AT&T store?

RESULTS. After 7 hours on hold or talking to AT&T and Apple Customer Service last night and this morning I went to the local AT&T store. Original problem was AT&T account prior to Cingular buying AT&T Wireless.

Remarkable service. They actually cared, I did not have to argue with them. Did not have to stand in line. It took about an hour to get my iPhone activated. They had to give me a new SIM card after they tried a couple of internal procedures. After the new SIM card, 5 minutes and iPhone was active, synched and making calls.

Completely different level of service at the local AT&T store that I experienced with AT&T phone customer service. The store was located at Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL, Kristie made it happen and Byron made sure I was happy. AT&T phone customer service did not have a clue about what to do or what was happening. Just a big waste of time and money. They should all be fired.

Local AT&T Store sold out of iPhones around noon today.

iPhone is awesome.

[shk718]

i just got the below email:

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is xxxxxx
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.

[iPoodOverZune]

Just found out from appleinsider that some activation issues (related to number porting) are related to entering different zip code that does not match with the area code of your current phone number. Hope this help some people


http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/30/how_to_port_ineligible_mobile_numbers_to_att_and_iphone.html

[brackle]

I'm porting over from Alltel and am just beginning hour 21 now. I've talked to AT&T numerous times with no help. Also tried going back to the AT&T store and they said they can't do anything with activation. They only sell the phone. Waiting on the line for Apple now. Not optimistic.

Edit: Apple guy said that it's like Disneyland where everybody is trying to ride the same ride at the same time. Said to wait it out. I asked specifically if Apple or AT&T sends the activation email. He said the way he thinks it works is At&t pings the phone to make sure everything is OK and set up (I guess with the SIM card) then Apple sends the email.

[eddiewouldcode]

i just got the below email:

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is xxxxxx
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.

Me too, got it about an hr ago, hopefully this is a good sign!! How long are you waiting? My helio phone still works though.

[shk718]

i was talking to an apple guy today - after an hour on hold. he said they have nothing to do with the activation of the phone - they don't even know what your number is or what plan you selectd. he said that was all ATT's side.

[goon315]

been lurking in this thread since last night about 7PM. which is when i got home to activate this gorgeous phone.

21 hours on. I've been pretty patient, havent called but twice...the first time, guy just said it would be 24 hours or so. Am on the phone right now (im a verizon customer, but I am keeping that phone for business and will use the iPhone as a personal device) and am being yakked at by a recording telling me that all iPhone representatives are busy.

its pretty annoying, but i figure they'll sort it out eventually.

strangely, i had to pay a deposit, didnt mind, but they had issues with the computer system and whatnot at the AT&T shop when i picked it up (after waiting in line for about 7 hours with a pretty cool group of people at arboretum in charlotte). im wondering if that somehow messed it up, but the first rep i spoke with said everything was in order, that i was jsut gonna have to wait.

so i wait. ive got a party to go to tonight, and will be highly annoyed if i can't show the effing thing off...i'm the only person in my group of friends that has one yet as far as i know.

:(

well see how this call goes.

[Freakk123]

I called 1-800-826-7356 and talked to a very helpful customer service rep. Here is what I found:

Something wonky is going on with the 1500 text messages data plan, so my data plan has to be added when my number is ported and I become an AT&T Wireless customer (from Verizon), which, he told me, is scheduled to happen at 9:30 pm tonight. And, once that happens at 9:30 pm, I have to call back to re-set up my data plan.

This is so, so frustrating, but hopefully that means I can get this all cleared up tonight. Oh wait, customer service will probably be closed and then I'll just be screwed. Thanks, AT&T! :mad: Ugh.

[ShellyFM]

I called 1-800-826-7356 and talked to a very helpful customer service rep. Here is what I found:
Something wonky is going on with the 1500 text messages, so my data plan has to be added when my number is ported and I become an AT&T Wireless customer, which, he told me, is scheduled to happen at 9:30 pm tonight. And, once that happens at 9:30 pm, I have to call back to re-set up my data plan. This is so, so frustrating, but hopefully that means I can get this all cleared up tonight. Ugh.

I signed up as a new customer and got the 1500 text message plan. I didn't port a number, though. On this iPhone (we got two), I was able to activate it immediately this morning.

[ShellyFM]

Me too, got it about an hr ago, hopefully this is a good sign!! How long are you waiting? My helio phone still works though.

What time did you both start the activation process?

[sixth]

well guys i ended up getting my phone activation reset. for some reason i couldnt get my verizon number to port. they even tried it manually and still no go. i even made sure they took the dash out of the acc number. the error they were getting was 'invalid phone market on ported number'. now i dont know if this stems from a verizon issue, an issue with just me of what. i had them delete my account COMPLETELY. started OVER and got a new number and activated the phone in 5 mins.

so i went from a brick to an actual phone.

[Jsimon9633]

This gets better and better

I finally get an email giving me my WEB ORDER number. I call to check the status and talked to a guy.

He didnt really want to give me any information but finally he told me the Sim number of the card that would supposedly be activated.

IT WAS MY OLD CARD!!!

I told him that didnt make any sense and that my NEW sim card is the one that works in my old phone right now and probably the one that ATT used to change my plan and so on.

He is like its fine blah blah blah, but I didnt believe him. He put me on hold and eventually told me he would update my acount using the ICCID number and IMEI number off the back of my iPhone box.

He said that now it should be activated within 24 hours of purchase??! which i think is just the cop out cause its already been 21 hours since I first tried to activate it!!!!!!

[eddiewouldcode]

What time did you both start the activation process?

15hrs ago!!

[maveness]

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER.

It's now been 17 hours. Got the second email: "We are currently processing your order...."

My old phone is going to die in 7 hours.

This is an unbelievable mess.

[nicoleva]

Brackle...

yeah but if I sliped $600 to the Disneyland employee I'd expect to cut the line!!!!!
:D

[sixth]

if you guys NEED the phone NOW...i would call and cancel everything, start over and get a new number. worked for me in 3 minutes...not sure whats going on but seems like porting from verizon is being a HUGE problem (or porting in general).

[eddiewouldcode]

Anyone got a "Thank you for your recent purchase" email from ATT?

[Jsimon9633]

Anyone got a "Thank you for your recent purchase" email from ATT?

Yep!!

[eddiewouldcode]

Yep!!

Is your Iphone activated yet?

[blackbook]

17 hours as of now.

i got the third (thank you for your purchase. we're processing your order.) email 2 hours ago.

in 7 hours my phone will supposedly deactivate.

:mad:

[foobarallen]

This 24 hour thing is just ******** to buy AT&T time to figure out what the hell is going wrong with all the orders. However, the chances that they are looking at your specific order is slim.

I've called 5 times. The first 3 times I took the wait ********. The fourth time I made them look into it and they discovered that my number port needed to be pushed through. I was signed up with Sprint before. They then told me that I would be activated soon but it would take up to 24 hours and not to call back until the time had elapsed.

********! I am on hold now after calling back their automated system which told me that they needed additional information from me. Apparently, the data plan feature had been rejected from my phone order and so my activation had been placed on hold. The guy is trying to fix it now while I'm on hold.

Success: the activation just went through!!!! Bug them until they fix it!!!

[Jsimon9633]

Is your Iphone activated yet?

hell nah see my previous post

[NIHMacAddict]

I just noticed that (when you switch over to emergency call mode), the time on the device is 10:02 pm (it is now 5:02 pm EST). I wonder why it's on GMT?

Can you tell I'm bored, waiting for activation? :D

[Lazernet]

ATTENTION: iPhone Support (the number on the porting number/confirmation email) is activating my phone manually! It seems that since my old phone doesn't work anymore (and has already been ported), they have the ability to manually override and force through the activation. @yay!

As a result of them "forcing it through"... I now got a confirmation email that everything is being processed. I should have a final confirmation within the hour says she. We'll find out.

- Eric

[Jsimon9633]

This 24 hour thing is just ******** to buy AT&T time to figure out what the hell is going wrong with all the orders. However, the chances that they are looking at your specific order is slim.

I've called 5 times. The first 3 times I took the wait ********. The fourth time I made them look into it and they discovered that my number port needed to be pushed through. I was signed up with Sprint before. They then told me that I would be activated soon but it would take up to 24 hours and not to call back until the time had elapsed.

********! I am on hold now after calling back their automated system which told me that they needed additional information from me. Apparently, the data plan feature had been rejected from my phone order and so my activation had been placed on hold. The guy is trying to fix it now while I'm on hold.

Success: the activation just went through!!!! Bug them until they fix it!!!


which number made it happen?

[Jsimon9633]

ATTENTION: iPhone Support (the number on the porting number/confirmation email) is activating my phone manually! It seems that since my old phone doesn't work anymore (and has already been ported), they have the ability to manually override and force through the activation. @yay!

As a result of them "forcing it through"... I now got a confirmation email that everything is being processed. I should have a final confirmation within the hour says she. We'll find out.

- Eric


what number did you call?

[tranced25]

This 24 hour thing is just ******** to buy AT&T time to figure out what the hell is going wrong with all the orders. However, the chances that they are looking at your specific order is slim.

I've called 5 times. The first 3 times I took the wait ********. The fourth time I made them look into it and they discovered that my number port needed to be pushed through. I was signed up with Sprint before. They then told me that I would be activated soon but it would take up to 24 hours and not to call back until the time had elapsed.

********! I am on hold now after calling back their automated system which told me that they needed additional information from me. Apparently, the data plan feature had been rejected from my phone order and so my activation had been placed on hold. The guy is trying to fix it now while I'm on hold.

Success: the activation just went through!!!! Bug them until they fix it!!!

How did they "push" it? I just got off the phone with them, trying to accomplish the same thing, and they said the systems were down, and to call back after 24 hrs. I'm on the 21st hour as we speak.

[SteveM8]

they told me I have to wait to call back until its been 24 hours. I have 5 to go but she said they close in 5 hours. Not sure if they are open tomorrow. WHATEVER!

This SUCKS

[Lazernet]

what number did you call?

877-800-3701

[Hammer God]

Finally worked a couple of minutes ago.

First I got an email from "iTunes Store" saying "Mobil Number Transfer Complete." (ported a number over from Sprint.) The body of the email read,

"Congratulations, AT&T has successfully transferred your existing mobile number. Your iPhone mobile number is: XXX XXX-XXXX."

So I took the iPhone out of the dock, put it back in and bingo, it started working. It's now syncing...

Good luck to all still wait. My wait was from 9:20PM PDT last night until about 1:35PM today. Happy to finally have it.

[/dev/toaster]

877-800-3701

The hold times to that number is getting unbelievable. I enjoy waiting on hold for an hour and a half only to get hung up on ... not once, not twice but three times today!

[slappy32]

22 hours and counting...Still no love.


More...I call the 877 number for an update, and now, after 22+ hours it says they need additional info and transfers me. Sitting on hold now, I think. There is no music or voice indicating that I am on hold. This is extemely poor organization.

[Lazernet]

ATTENTION: iPhone Support (the number on the porting number/confirmation email) is activating my phone manually! It seems that since my old phone doesn't work anymore (and has already been ported), they have the ability to manually override and force through the activation. @yay!

As a result of them "forcing it through"... I now got a confirmation email that everything is being processed. I should have a final confirmation within the hour says she. We'll find out.

- Eric

Just to add to this. Within minutes after the confirmation email about processing I received another email that it was complete! Yay! I'm syncing as we speak! Wooh! I'll be back later to check in, but for now I'm gonna play!

- Eric

[ShellyFM]

15hrs ago!!

That's depressing. The process was started at 8:50pm last night for one of our iPhones, and we haven't even received a 2nd e-mail yet. So, that puts us at 20+ hours.

[ShellyFM]

ATTENTION: iPhone Support (the number on the porting number/confirmation email) is activating my phone manually! It seems that since my old phone doesn't work anymore (and has already been ported), they have the ability to manually override and force through the activation. @yay!

As a result of them "forcing it through"... I now got a confirmation email that everything is being processed. I should have a final confirmation within the hour says she. We'll find out.

- Eric

We were told there was no way to do the activation manually. I wonder how you got them to do it. Did you say anything specific?

[AtariAge]

Made another call to AT&T and got right through to someone. She told me that there was nothing she could do on her end and that everything looked okay in my account and that it could take up to 24 hours from the initial activation attempt before I get the magic email that states my phone has been activated. She said that my account looked further along than many she's seen today, although that really isn't very reassuring considering I've been waiting over 21 hours so far. :mad:

She said I should be able to use the SIM card in my old phone (since they have kindly deactivated it) and I told her I already tried this and that I receive a 'Please Insert Correct SIM card' when I turn that phone on with the iPhone SIM card. I then told her I have an old blue system phone and that I'm completely without a cell phone until this new phone activates. She sympathized with my plight, but said she could do nothing on her end.

What a mess.

..Al

[nicoleva]

I just called the activation support line because I still haven't received that email with the 6 digit order number.. He proceeds to tell me my number but then says he has resubmitted it and it will take somewhere between 36 - 48 hours from NOW.

I've about HAD IT.!!!

BTW my number was 69#### iif that means anything to anyone at this point.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[slappy32]

I'm now on hold with a CSR and she gave me the same old 24 hr. routine. I stayed firm, stated my case that 22 hrs. is long enough and I have 2 other friends, including one with a verizon number port get theirs going in less than 5 minutes. She then asks me to hold on while she researches the problem. I am currently on hold.



Okay - she came back on and said she thinks she knows what the problem is and puts me back on hold to do more investigating.

[SpyderFCS]

within an hour of 24 hours and still waiting.

Anyone notice that it says '3G' on the sim card? Just thought it was interesting...

[Jsimon9633]

WOW

I talked to another rep and got this finally!!!!

Congratulations, AT&T has successfully activated your iPhone service.



let me try it

[Catgofire]

I started at 11 p.m. yesterday. Family plan, 1500 txt messages, porting from T-Mobile. My dad (main line) got activated almost right away. I just got activated, some 17 hours later. Syncing now.

I DIDN'T CALL ANY AT&T or APPLE NUMBERS. I got the "Mobile Number Transfer Complete" e-mail from "iTunes Store," switched on my phone, and it started right up.

I did, however, call up Satan from my landline and promise him my soul and my first born. So if anyone is still having trouble, you may want to try that. 1-900-666.

(edit: if anyone wants any info or has any questions about my situation, e-mail me at cat go fire at gmail dot com.)

[hamedatl]

OMG, mine just worked. I called the normal 877-419-4500 #. Gave her my activation ID (preparing for another disappointed phone call). She did some stuff, and I got the email while I was on the phone with her. She said she had to go through my account and add different options to do the activation. Normal rep. Either they've figured out the problem or she was just smart and we've been dealing with dumb reps all day.

By the way, it took 22 hours. 8 of those I was without a cell because Verizon had already been ported.

[SpyderFCS]

OMG, mine just worked. I called the normal 877-419-4500 #. Gave her my activation ID (preparing for another disappointed phone call). She did some stuff, and I got the email while I was on the phone with her. She said she had to go through my account and add different options to do the activation. Normal rep. Either they've figured out the problem or she was just smart and we've been dealing with dumb reps all day.

By the way, it took 22 hours. 8 of those I was without a cell because Verizon had already been ported.

Where did you get an activation ID?

[mickeyd26]

i'm at 13 hours... :mad:

[sdotbailey]

I called to try and get them to cancel/delete the current "account" i have in the systems where they're porting my number and they said they couldn't. I wanted to just start over and get the phone working with a new number, then later this week, port over my current phone number. But, the guy said that activating a completely new account would be the same kind of wait...which is funny because my roommate activated his phone in three minutes...on my computer. He was an existing customer, but it still seems kind of ****ed up that his phone was up and running in 4 minutes while i'm going on 22 hours here...

[hamedatl]

Where did you get an activation ID?

Its the number at the first email saying AT&T is processing your account. The one from 20 hours ago lol

[ShellyFM]

I called to try and get them to cancel/delete the current "account" i have in the systems where they're porting my number and they said they couldn't. I wanted to just start over and get the phone working with a new number, then later this week, port over my current phone number. But, the guy said that activating a completely new account would be the same kind of wait...which is funny because my roommate activated his phone in three minutes...on my computer. He was an existing customer, but it still seems kind of ****ed up that his phone was up and running in 4 minutes while i'm going on 22 hours here...

One of our phones was for a new account without porting and it went through immediately at 8:20am. I'll do the porting later.

Our other phone for an existing account is going on 21 hours.

[brackle]

OMG, mine just worked. I called the normal 877-419-4500 #. Gave her my activation ID (preparing for another disappointed phone call). She did some stuff, and I got the email while I was on the phone with her. She said she had to go through my account and add different options to do the activation. Normal rep. Either they've figured out the problem or she was just smart and we've been dealing with dumb reps all day.

By the way, it took 22 hours. 8 of those I was without a cell because Verizon had already been ported.

The rep I got at that number is transferring me to Activations. Couldn't do anything. Or didn't know anything.

[SpyderFCS]

Its the number at the first email saying AT&T is processing your account. The one from 20 hours ago lol

Yeah...mine definitely does not have a number. It was in the e-mail from 'do_not_reply@apple.com'?

[runplaysleeprun]

877-800-3701

I called that number too just now, and they finally got me activated! It was the 5th time I had spoken to someone in the last 20 hours.

[gcrowell]

can somebody please paste the activation linke without the personal information, so we can try putting in our own personal info to activate.

This will not work- the URL also has what I am guessing is encrypted versions of your iTunes login and password, so it can associate the iPhone with your account.

Sorry....

[Big-TDI-Guy]

Update. I have decent credit, I live on the east coast, purchased my iphone in an apple store and attempted to activate it at 11:50pm on Friday. (port from verizon)

Got the 24 hour notice in the email and could not activate it after multiple attempts.

I did NOT call apple / att or verizon. At 4pm today I got an email saying it went through - I went through itunes and the phone is active.

I decided not to dwell on it, went to fix up my old Honda Aero 125, and that let time slip by enough to find out my phone was finally on.

Good luck to the rest of you.

[slappy32]

Okay, here is the deal with my account. Your mileage may vary. I am an existing AT&T customer. The activation was being held up because I had features on my account that could not be deleted for whatever reason. Voicemail, data, etc. Those things needed to be removed in order to add something called MMV2, which is the package for the iPhone. The rep was never able to delete the old stuf, but she said she could go ahead and activate the phone anyway, which is what she is doing hopefully. She was very helpful, although it took a long time to get to this point. Hope this helps someone. Just got the activation complete email:

Congratulations, AT&T has successfully activated your iPhone service.


If you have not done so already, please connect your iPhone to your computer now to complete this activation (or click here if your iPhone is already connected).

[kyber]

I called that number too just now, and they finally got me activated! It was the 5th time I had spoken to someone in the last 20 hours.

Worked for me too. Thanks. After 23h, half of them spent on the phone with either AT&T or Apple, each side blaming the other, punched in the number we'd gotten in e-mail last night into the number above, got sent to a rep who said snidely our plan was wrong (this after countless AT&T reps said our plan was fine).
She was about to transfer me out again, but I vented for a few minutes about it, and within 5 minutes we were activated and playing with the phone.

Thanks to this forum thread, it was quite helpful.

[thejoshu]

Porting a number over from Sprint, to join a preexisting AT&T account.

Was told last night and again this morning that it's been successfully activated. Nobody can tell me why I haven't received the e-mail yet.

It shows up on my AT&T account, I have successfully worked to convert the rate plan to a family plan, but no magic e-mail.

8:46pm eastern: activation timed out
2:39pm eastern: "we are currently processing your order" e-mail

And now? Nothing. My old phone still works for incoming/outgoing calls.

Anybody been through a similar process with any success?

[applehappy]

It appears my first problem, after 16 hours and many phone calls, was related to being on an old "blue" plan from prior to the ATT/Cingular merger. I got the plan thing fixed by going to the Cingular store that I purchased the phone at. Within an hour I got an email that my plan was not compatible with iphone. So I called, several times and found the problem to be that I had a government discount associated with my plan. I called back to my local store to fix this as the 800 number said they couldn't do it. After fixing that, I am now on hold with a woman that seems to be making some progress. 18 hours in and no iphone. I hope to someday actually be able to utilize my $600 device. Thank you ATT for thinking of such a comprehensive system. 18 hours in at this point. Thanks to so many for posting so many tips, helped me get ahead of the ATT folks that have no clue.

[Jsimon9633]

this is funny the phone got activated on the wrong sim number :)

[SPUY767]

I called that number too just now, and they finally got me activated! It was the 5th time I had spoken to someone in the last 20 hours.

I called that number after the fifth activation e-mail I've gotten. Got a non-native english speaker who was utterly unhelpful.

[jsneedles91]

23 hours exactly, somewhere around 3 on phone, notthing doing, tried explaining how some have gotten manually pushed, they had no idea, the best # i called was 18774194506, couldnt help but were pretty knwledgable, and nice, they told me to try the sim card thing, didnt do anything. Getting angry, yelled at manager on last call, got activation fee waved and no bill for last 2 days with out it, and now have no cell,

PS told could be another 24 hrs

now on hold again, finally a guy says he sees a reason in conflicting features, FINALLY MAYBE I WILL BE DONE WITH THIS MUSIC AND ONTO MY IPHONE!

[Jsimon9633]

THE BEAST IS ALIVE!!!

SO something weird happened


I took out the Sim card and I could still use WIFI, is that suppose to be the case?????

no sim card can still use wifi and all features internet based?

It was activated using my old sim , so i took it out and put my new sim in there while it was on and it told me to activate, i run itunes and bam DONE!

[magicmoof]

applehappy is right. I had a similar situation. Old AT&T plan was 400 mins and I had a corp discount on my account. Just called and waited over an hour on hold. The woman was nice and helpful. You can't get mad at these people they're doing their best. Anyhoo, she converted my account to an account that would switch over to apple's plan properly. I returned to itunes and reset the phone. This time it seemed some communication took place, it loaded for 15-20 seconds, but I again received the cursed "additional time to complete" message. Now I'm waiting again. I'm hoping the email comes this time and (I never got one last time around). My account info is already updated on the AT&T wireless website, so hopefully it will come soon. Anyone else in this situation? How long did it take to get the email?

[thejoshu]

Got off the phone with somebody at AT&T who was totally checked out. She said (and confirmed with a supervisor) that I need to first release the number from Sprint before I can move forward with activation.

FWIW, Sprint then said that they automatically cancel accounts and release numbers when that is requested from another carrier.

So now I'm back on the line with AT&T.

I am having a great weekend.

[eddiewouldcode]

Got off the phone with somebody at AT&T who was totally checked out. She said (and confirmed with a supervisor) that I need to first release the number from Sprint before I can move forward with activation.

FWIW, Sprint then said that they automatically cancel accounts and release numbers when that is requested from another carrier.

So now I'm back on the line with AT&T.

I am having a great weekend.

I got the same from ATT, I'm porting from Helio which uses sprint's network. I called Helio up to tell them to release my number, but I was told that they don't work weekends, bastards. So I think I won't have my iphone activated until Monday.:mad:
Well I think I gonna go out and try to forget about this!!!

[ringostar]

Just for kicks... and lack of anything else to do this Saturday afternoon, I have compiled this list of activations based on posts since this noon

Successful Activations (28)
Big-TDI-Guy
Catgofire
DreaminDirector
dusigns
fireworks501
Flowbee
foobarallen
Furgster
gcrowell
hamedatl
Hammer God
Jeffrey903
Jsimon9633
Kinetic
kyber
Lazernet
macanudo
nt5672
Omegamanstyle
pkpkast
plumbingandtech
runplaysleeprun
s1zeRo
Slappy32
SNF Mixer
Stewie
tasslehawf
thecityatnight

And the rest who are trying (62)
///M Power
/dev/toaster
applehappy
AtariAge
avkills
blackbook
boeingair
brackle
Bradley W
chicat
ciscokidd
djbeeker
docal97
eddiewouldcode
eric09
Freakk123
goon315
ichris2
imationx
jbomber
jmacdonagh
jsneedles91
kemer
kop
LoganK
M3Jedi77
magicmoof
mattportner
maveness
maxlee
mickeyd26
milkmanamok
Nagooya
nicoleva
NIHMacAddict
nkkumi01
Oglikn
petsounds
phigment
pulpdoc
PuterSaurus
robhedin
rxden
sabr
scoobierules
sdotbailey
ShellyFM
shk718
ShockerMan4x4
SixSlinger
sixth
SPUY767
SpyderFCS
SteveM8
sumsugar
thejoshu
tortfeasor
tranced25
TurboPGT
uNext
varscsak
Zolk

[brackle]

Got off the phone with somebody at AT&T who was totally checked out. She said (and confirmed with a supervisor) that I need to first release the number from Sprint before I can move forward with activation.

FWIW, Sprint then said that they automatically cancel accounts and release numbers when that is requested from another carrier.

So now I'm back on the line with AT&T.

I am having a great weekend.

They are telling me the same thing about moving from Alltel.

[avkills]

Well I just got up, been sleeping to try and keep my mind off it, phone still does not work, calling the phone number (I kept my existing at&t number) dumps me into voice mail.

Still have the "when hell freezes over message" and have not received any emails.

Tonight or Sunday might entail a trip to the Apple store to kick someone's ass.

I'm glad some of you are finally getting activated. It seems quite odd that they did not expect this much buying and activating, you would have thought they would have the backbone to handle every phone they threw at the market.

-mark

[mickeyd26]

it's been over 14 hours... just got off the phone with at&t. CS rep was like it'll take about 24 hours from the start. i was like, wtf?~! why so long? he said that they didn't expect all the activations to come at once like this and their [at&t's] systems are currently overwhelmed... i was like you had SIX MONTHS time and you knew that it would be like this you J**KA$$~! i was like, this is ridiculous! and i hung up. i swear, if it's not done within 24 hours from when i started, someone better hold me back... i really think they should compensate us for this down time and inconvenience. they had MORE than enough time to prepare and train for this. not helping people's opinions/feelings towards at&t either... :mad:

[greenBabe]

What a bunch of ******** d**che bags. 24 hours after launch and we still can't get our d*mn ******** phone activated. Do not even think about charging me "a one time activation fee". Can we say class action lawsuit.

[dukeblue91]

I now past the 23 hr mark :(
And I'm getting tired of calling them and listening to the same bull again and again.
I don't know whose fault this is but on Monday I call Apples customer relations and give them a ear full about this, and maybe send an email to Jobs too, not that he will actually answer me.

I think we all should do so to let them know how unhappy this has made us.

[varscsak]

After several calls to ATT and 2 to Apple.....

I called 1-877-419-4500 (as someone else posted earlier) and told the person that I was trying to activate my iPhone since yesterday. After she told me to do the obvious (like connecting it to iTunes) she put me on hold to look into the problem.

After about 10 minutes she told me they identified the problem on my account (but didn't specify what it was) and that it would be working within the hour.

I left to go to the grocery store...but 1 minute after I left I got an email saying:

Congratulations, AT&T is now transferring your existing mobile number to this iPhone.

Your iPhone may now make outgoing calls but will be unable to receive calls on your existing mobile number until the transfer is complete.

You will receive an email confirmation once your mobile number transfer is complete. If you have not done so already, please connect your iPhone to your computer now to complete this activation (or click here if your iPhone is already connected).

I was then able to go into iTunes and it activated the phone and is now syncing.

My iBrick is now a one-way iPhone. :D I don't care about the number port...I'm just glad I can play now!

I think the moral of the story is call every number you get your hands on until it's working. I think if I hadn't called it would still be stuck in limbo.

Good luck,

Lon

[tranced25]

Just got off the phone with AT&T porting dept. Clarence is insisting that I leave the iPhone connected to the dock attached to the computer with iTunes running before it can be activated. He also said that it will be 24-72(!) hours before it will work.

This is BS. 72 hours? Are they serious, or just trying to curb call-ins?

WTF?

I think I am going to the AT&T store.

[goon315]

I've made two phone calls and one trip to the AT&T Store. The people at the store, while completely unhelpful, were pretty cool. They say that Apple has given them no access to be able to switch sim cards and all that. Im pretty sure they knew i didnt believe them, but whatever. They said that the AT&T system had my phone as active, so they won't credit my account if it doesnt turn on for however long. its basically been 23:30 for me, and nothing yet.

I've also made two phone calls to numbers listed here where others appear to have gotten through to someone that has helped, and the apple people say they're backed up, the at&t people say that everything is cool, just to wait.

pretty long wait, IMO.

i love the list of activees/non-activees, should post that on USA Today or sommat.

im going to this party, and taking a non-working iphone with me. i dont want the dog to eat it while im out!


:D

[nicoleva]

Called magic number again

now an eta of 2 hours - better than 48 so I'm somewhat happy.

[hamedatl]

Just for kicks... and lack of anything else to do this Saturday afternoon, I have compiled this list of activations based on posts since this noon


I'm guessing a lot of folks have disappeared from the forums as soon as their phone got activated.. I know I'm about to ;)

[avkills]

Yeah it looks as though more and more it is Apple's fault. AT&T says my phone is active. The total lack of preparation is unbelievable, you would think as soon as they started selling like hotcakes, Apple would have been quickly adding more servers and bandwidth to deal with the problem.

All I can say is this ****er better kick ass as a phone.

-mark

[Jwalker9]

alright guys, im getting close. I have been on activation hold for 24 hours now trying to port from Verizon. ATT now says my phone should be activated and that the email should be coming as soon as my Verizon phone turns off. hmm, the damn thing wont turn off, no email and have disconnected the iphone multiple times. any suggestions or just keep waiting?

[ciscokidd]

I still haven't called today... wishful thinking that something would of happened by now... I'm now approaching hour 23, I'm leaving for dinner in an hour and if i get back and no email I'm definitely gonna try to find out how far my activation has proceeded.... this is so lame

[BobCatMan]

Finally! Just got the email, only took 19 hours. I had to remove my old data plan and it went right through.

[tranced25]

Called magic number again

now an eta of 2 hours - better than 48 so I'm somewhat happy.

I think they all say something different. I just called the "magic" number myself, and they told me to the same thing as Clarence in the porting Dept. To leave it plugged into the computer with iTunes running.

Actually, this is the first time stories jived between AT&T reps. I dunno.....

[Dark]

Ive only been waiting about 4 hours now, but within the past hour my AT&T Razr stopped worked (unregistered sim). So now im without a phone. I have only received one email so far from Apple. The " AT&T is now processing your application". I'm one of the most impatient people in the world and im about to gnaw my wrists off.

[tranced25]

Ive only been waiting about 4 hours now, but within the past hour my AT&T Razr stopped worked (unregistered sim). So now im without a phone. I have only received one email so far from Apple. The " AT&T is now processing your application". I'm one of the most impatient people in the world and im about to gnaw my wrists off.

You are in for it.... 24 hours+ now for me, but maybe because you started today, it will go faster.

[Jsimon9633]

Guys I suggest you keep calling the 877 800 3701 number

I think they are able to activate it using your sim number and IMEI number but they dont want to manually do it for ton of people

but keep doing it this is how i got mine done

[avkills]

I am at 22 hours. If it isn't working in 24, I am going to call Apple, if they are closed, an Apple store. I still can't fathom how ****ing ridicules this is. Jobs or someone better issue a God damn press release or something.

It is as though the support people have never even seen the process through iTunes. Jesus corporate America is ****ed up.

And we're going to try and go to the moon again, what a ****ing laugh, we can't even get cell phones activated in a reasonable amount of time. 5-6 hours to me is reasonable. My last phone was activated about 1 hour after leaving the store; but I could call out with it.

Sales are surely going to suffer from all this bad press. How ****ing awesome would the press had been if all this activation **** worked fast and without a hitch.

-mark

[Freakk123]

Well, I called the tech support again (877-419-4500) and the woman said to me "We're experiencing about 3 million activations, and it's especially busy in the NY area." If that's true, good for apple/at&t for selling 3 million phones, but seriously disappointing that we've had to go through this.

She also expressed surprise when she checked the status of my port and saw that it had a time attached (9:30), so I guess in a sense I'm a lucky one of many unlucky ones... Along the lines of the whole "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." Or maybe not.

Anyway, I'll report back at, say, 9:45 if my phone works. Good luck everyone.

By the way, I just broke the 24 hour mark.

[avkills]

Guys I suggest you keep calling the 877 800 3701 number

I think they are able to activate it using your sim number and IMEI number but they dont want to manually do it for ton of people

but keep doing it this is how i got mine done

Mine seems to be activated; but I have not received the magic juice through iTunes to unlock the phone. I am all on Apple's ass right now.

-mark

[Jsimon9633]

REmember you have to be insistent with these people on the phone because you know what? half of them dont work for either ATT or Apple. They apparently didnt anticipate these issues and barely contracted them for the weekend this morning.

So trust me they have to ask someone to help them but if they can get away with giving you the 24 hour spiel they will.

INSIST!

I am LOVING this thing though . the iphone rocks

[tranced25]

I think they are able to activate it using your sim number and IMEI number
but keep doing it this is how i got mine done

You think or know?

Thanks for the advice, holding on them now.

[swindmill]

I just tried to activate mine as a new customer and no number porting. I got the takes additional time message about 45 minutes ago. I called and was told I had a number (which he gave me). He said all sorts of stuff about why it still needs time and blamed it on "the iTunes system". I was told up to 24 hours and several minutes later I was told at least 24 hours. It sounds like no one knows what is going on.

I'm assuming there is no way to get into the OS until it's activated?

[ElBerserko]

I had been waiting patiently for 19 hours for my transfer to go through until I got an email saying my number from Verizon was not eligible for transfer.

I called AT&T and they said Verizon would not release the number and to call them. I did, and Verizon told me they could not port the number until I had an active account with AT&T, telling me I had to activate the phone under a new 'temporary' number before they could transfer.

After calling AT&T back with this information, the rep told me to activate again as a transfer as before, but iTunes denied the transfer right away. My only option was to elect to have a new phone number and then I was told I could work out the transfer after the phone has been activated.

As of now I am still waiting for the email with the Activation ID number since my latest activation attempt a half hour ago...

[Jsimon9633]

You think or know?

Thanks for the advice, holding on them now.

I KNOW they can, thats how I got mine done after waiting since 7pm yesterday!!!

the guy said "ok i activated it" immediately i received that magical email so that lets me know they do have that power.

[Zolk]

I KNOW they can, thats how I got mine done after waiting since 7pm yesterday!!!

the guy said "ok i activated it" immediately i received that magical email so that lets me know they do have that power.

I've already given AT&T my IMEI and SIM number. Still no email.

[Cadence]

Wow this has been the most ridiculous process for any new product I've bought. First I downloaded the new Itunes 7.3 only to be told I needed Tiger 10.4.1
$129 and many many hours later I'm sitting here waiting for my stupid email activation. I'm also a former blue plan member (AT&T before Cingular merge) which scares me...they'll prob have some weird issue transferring info over. Ahhhhh

[ashleym]

I'm an existing Cingular customer and I'm still waiting - 24 hrs & 18 mins so far.

Tried calling AT&T (877-800-3701) at the 22 hour mark and they just said to keep waiting for the activation process to finish and then I'd be notified via email.

My old phone also stopped working once I started iPhone the activation process. But it works if I put the SIM card from the iPhone in it.

[tranced25]

I'm assuming there is no way to get into the OS until it's activated?

You assume correctly. Can't do diddly-squat without activation. Been sitting here staring at it like a monkey in "2001: A Space Odyssey" in front of the ominous monolith.

[Hmac]

Sales are surely going to suffer from all this bad press. How ****ing awesome would the press had been if all this activation **** worked fast and without a hitch.

-mark

I don't think sales are going to suffer at all. The majority of iPhone sales are going to take place over the next 6 months, with a therefore decreased server load. This kind of short term demand has never happened in the history of US wireless carriers. I'm surprised that you guys are so surprised at delays and glitches in this activation rush caused by the sheer number of frantic early adopters all trying to activate their phones within the same 24 hour time frame using a set of activation methods that have really never been tried before. Besides, despite the volume of whining about it here on MacRumors, I suspect your problems represent a minority of iPhone purchasers. Shoot, I think you guys even represent a minority here on this website.

[Cadence]

just called the
877 800 3701 #

"I'm sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties, please try again later"

[avkills]

I don't think sales are going to suffer at all. The majority of iPhone sales are going to take place over the next 6 months, with a therefore decreased server load. This kind of short term demand has never happened in the history of US wireless carriers. I'm surprised that you guys are so surprised at delays and glitches in this activation rush caused by the frantic early adopters.

Don't you think a rational person would have realized this and made the proper precautions?

-mark

[tranced25]

I KNOW they can, thats how I got mine done after waiting since 7pm yesterday!!!

the guy said "ok i activated it" immediately i received that magical email so that lets me know they do have that power.

Thanks, I am on the phone with them now, will let everyone know what transpires. If this works, you will be my new God. LOL, J/K

UPDATE: Been on hold for 10 minutes with the representitive. She is looking at my acct. after I gave her the order#.

UPDATE: Still holding.... Don't know what she's looking at or looking for.

UPDATE: Just got off, said my T-Mobile # is still porting. She said to try back in about 2 hours if nothing's still working.... She DID say that Clarence in the porting dept. had no idea what he was talking about when he said to keep it attached to the computer while running iTunes. Thanks for the advice though, It was worth trying at least

[Cadence]

Anyone know how Apple stores are handling this? I have an Apple store across the street, I wonder if they can help the activation process at all, but I'm afraid to remove my iphone now from the cradle while connected to itunes.

I love how this was all supposed to make the activation process more convenient than in store activation.

[LeifErikson]

i'm having trouble aswell... been waiting for an hour already... nothing yet. :(

Anyone know how Apple stores are handling this? I have an Apple store across the street, I wonder if they can help the activation process at all, but I'm afraid to remove my iphone now from the cradle while connected to itunes.

I love how this was all supposed to make the activation process more convenient than in store activation.

nothing will happen.. i've disconnected twice already and when i reconnect it the "may take up to 3 mins to process" messages comes up.

[paja]

We need a Class Action Lawsuit.

There is no way I am paying this activation fee. I am cancelling this and returning the phone. This company is totally incompetent.

I'm sorry I ever fell for this Apple Phone.

I warn all Windows user thinking of switching that Apple is totally incompetent.

I now see why they are not in the corporate environment. They wouldn't last a day. What a joke. This phone is going back on Monday.

[willib4]

At 22 hours and counting, I have tried calling 800.331.0500, 866.801.3600 and the AT&T Wireless page tech support chat. No luck. "Keep waiting, sir, there's nothing we can do." I do find it odd that I have been receiving the same email over and over again, giving me my order number several times.

Seriously, this is driving me Crazy!:eek:

[brackle]

Don't you think a rational person would have realized this and made the proper precautions?

-mark

I've been thinking about that today. What incentive would they really have to upgrade their system just for one weekend (or maybe a little more) of way above average demand? They probably thought about it and figured it wouldn't be cost effective. They already have our money and know we aren't going to pay the restocking fee. Besides most of us will be happy when this is done.

They weren't going to announce they knew there'd be problems because that would dampen demand. A lot of people would have just waited. Not as many long lines. Hurts the bottom line and the hype. So I've come the conclusion they just bit the bullet knowing full well that this would happen.

[Cadence]

Latest email

Your current AT&T rate plan is not compatible with the iPhone.


Please contact AT&T at 877-419-4500 to select a new rate plan and complete your activation.

note** I have the old blue plan before Cingular merger

[avkills]

Thanks, I am on the phone with them now, will let everyone know what transpires. If this works, you will be my new God. LOL, J/K

UPDATE: Been on hold for 10 minutes with the representitive. She is looking at my acct. after I gave her the order#.

UPDATE: Still holding.... Don't know what she's looking at or looking for.

At least you have a number, I have squat. On the phone again.

-mark

[greenBabe]

after that I'm camping in an AT&T store. If I have to weep hysterically, I will do so ...just to deter other potential AT&T customers. This sucks. I'm so pissed off at this point ... I still have an iBrick (and I'm only 9 hrs and counting - still utterly unacceptable). Does AT&T have the slighest ******** clue?

[avkills]

I've been thinking about that today. What incentive would they really have to upgrade their system just for one weekend (or maybe a little more) of way above average demand? They probably thought about it and figured it wouldn't be cost effective. They already have our money and know we aren't going to pay the restocking fee. Besides most of us will be happy when this is done.

They weren't going to announce they knew there'd be problems because that would dampen demand. A lot of people would have just waited. Not as many long lines. Hurts the bottom line and the hype. So I've come the conclusion they just bit the bullet knowing full well that this would happen.

That thinking right there, is the typical corporate mentality. And the bad news is it is only going to get worse. I think jacking the lives of some CEOs and upper management to the extreme is probably the only solution to this ever growing lack of customer service.

On the phone right now, they pretty much said they can't get in without that web order ID. If that is the case, then this system is worse than I thought.

-mark

[joekix]

make sure you check you spam/bulk folders too. i found my activation email there.

[D1G1T4L]

We need a Class Action Lawsuit.

There is no way I am paying this activation fee. I am cancelling this and returning the phone. This company is totally incompetent.

I'm sorry I ever fell for this Apple Phone.

I warn all Windows user thinking of switching that Apple is totally incompetent.

I now see why they are not in the corporate environment. They wouldn't last a day. What a joke. This phone is going back on Monday.

Sad...........

[jsneedles91]

26 Hours And Still No Activation E-mail Only They First One, And No Old Phone

[johncarync]

Date: Saturday, June 30, 2007
6:15 PM - Bought iPhone at Apple store
6:50 PM - Connected iPhone to Mac and began iTunes activation
7:00 PM - Clicked final activation button and received message that it will take extra time
7:50 PM - Received e-mail stating that activation was complete
7:55 PM - Sync complete!
8:00 PM - Made a call on my iPhone

Details:
* Already had individual AT&T (Cingular) account/cell phone
* Transferred my current number to the iPhone

[SpyderFCS]

26 Hours And Still No Activation E-mail Only They First One, And No Old Phone

Same here!!!!

[brackle]

make sure you check you spam/bulk folders too. i found my activation email there.

Well unless the activation email also contains an offer to "megasize" my member then nope, it's not there.

[tranced25]

We need a Class Action Lawsuit.

There is no way I am paying this activation fee. I am cancelling this and returning the phone. This company is totally incompetent.

I'm sorry I ever fell for this Apple Phone.

I warn all Windows user thinking of switching that Apple is totally incompetent.

I now see why they are not in the corporate environment. They wouldn't last a day. What a joke. This phone is going back on Monday.

I am soooooo not paying a connect fee...... They can bite me:cool: Also, by the time I have had my dirty way with them, I hope to receive a discount off my plan for my time. "Hope" being the operative word.

[justcallmepete]

so ive been reading everyones stories all day and thought i would share my own.




stood in line from 1130am to get my phone. when i got home i plugged it into my itunes and all i got was a spinning ball. i couldnt get the screen to come up. and im pretty sure its because i just got back from the WWDC and have the beta leopard on my macbook. a lot of my programs have been acting funny since ive put it on. i need to re-install tiger, but the disks are at work...but i digress.

so i went to my friends house to put it in her itunes. thats when i got the same message everyone has been getting. "activation will take more time". that was at about 9pm last night. i called today (just once because i already am livid about this...and being on the phone with these incompetent people just add fuel to my fire and it really just does no good). when i called, i was reminded why i hate calling them. the girl answered laughing (like she was just in the middle of a conversation) and i could barely understand what she said. so that was just not the way to start off this call. i then asked to talk to her manager. talked to her and told her how ridiculous it was that this was even going on. but then to call and have someone in the middle of a slumber party was just too much. she apologized and told me that their servers were down right now and that they couldnt even type in my information to look it up. it was "invisible to her". but she then somehow put in my information and told me that my number i am porting from T Mobile was accepted, but that my phone would not shut off until the ATT phone was activated. and they also said my credit card will not be charged until it is activated also.

so i am almost at my 24th hour also and still no word.

[SpyderFCS]

It's sad...I'm on hold right now but this lady has been able to give me my web order number and my phone number...neither of which I have received any e-mails for so far....

[kemer]

just got an email saying "we have identified a problem with the information you've supplied. please call us at: ..." WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!

[Jsimon9633]

I should clarify that I am an existing ATT customer so I am not sure of the process of getting porting from a different carrier.

the ICCID and IMEI number thing WAS done over the phone with me and I didnt hang up til I got the activation email. I had called like 20 times before so no way I trusted some outsourced customer service rep.

Hang in there guys, phone is great, worth it for me.

[Tazzy531]

A little progress.

I called in earlier and they said that there were issues porting from my T-Mobile account.

Just got an email saying we need more information.

Right this minute is EXACTLY 24 hours from hitting the submit button and getting excited about playing with the Jesus phone.

Now, I'm on hold trying to get this activated.

So..what exactly did I pay the $36 for?

Update: After being on hold for half hour, finally talked to a guy and he confirmed some info with me. Then tells me that it's not activated because TMobile won't release my number. He said I had to call TMobile to tell them to release my number and then call them back. I asked if I could just not port the number and get a new number and he said he would need to cancel the activation and restart the process at which point, I may lose my location in queue.

Now, I'm on the phone with TMobile trying to get this ported. [SIGH] Haven't they tested this process?

[LeifErikson]

activated for me! woot!
took like 2 hours. :) good luck with the rest of you!

[scoobierules]

Asked about problems that some iPhone buyers were having with activating their phones, Siegel said the “vast majority” of customers were able to begin using their phones within minutes.

“There are some whose activation process is being delayed and that’s something that can happen in a launch like this and we’re resolving those on a case-by-case basis,” Siegel said.


My number is still not ported after they told me by 6. Now they are closed!

Wait until everyone get there first bill. That will be a another cluster!!!!!!

ATT SUCKS AND SHAME ON APPLE FOR LETTING THEM SLANDER THEIR REPUTATION!

[eddiewouldcode]

Came back from jogging, checked mail, got my third "Thank you for your recent purchase" email:confused:

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is XXXXX
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.