AT&T Store COULD NOT Activate new iPhone 3G... Sent home to activate!

ManWithoutPlan · 10:58 AM

OK... so I was the first in line at the ATT store... they unboxed my 16g white iPhone... went through the steps and it was taking forever to "unbrick" (activate) my phone. After about 20 mins the manager came over and said he just received email about "technical problems" and it said to send customers home with iPhone 3G to activate! ... Well.. im home.... trying to activate... and it is having the same problems! Stuck on "ACCESSING iTUNES STORE"....

GREAT! Now I'm stuck without a phone for God knows how long!

UPDATE: 9:32AM Just got an error (-4).... retried... now it says: "iPhone Activations Are UNAVAILABLE At This Time"!!!!!! This is horrible.... Way to go APPLE!

UPDATE 2: 9:53AM Tried again... finally got to "Let's Get Started"... Now Restoring from previous backup... keeping my fingers crossed!

FINAL UPDATE!!!! It finally works! 2 HRS after this whole process started! BS... just utter BS! LOL At least I have a WORKING 3G iPhone now... hopefully it wont have a lot of kinks... Best of luck guys!

ert3 · Jul 11, 2008, 09:52 AM

I was in line for 4 hours and had the same happen to me.

I am currently trying with my Verizon air card.

Tallest Skil · Jul 11, 2008, 09:53 AM

Your username is... intriguingly appropriate.

Did they make you sign up for the plan at the store? Or are you truly without a plan? If they sent you home without a plan, you, my friend, have an untraceable iPhone. Unlock that puppy.

LePigeonBleu · Jul 11, 2008, 09:55 AM

I'm having the same problem. ATT told me to go home to unbrick and finish activation, however, it's saying "Accessing iTunes Store" and won't load the page.

I've waited this long to get the phone, finally did, and it isn't letting me activate.

Anyone know a work-around, or troubleshooting tips? I've called ATT and they aren't sure.

Please help!

-mark

stevehp · Jul 11, 2008, 09:55 AM

Wow, talk about being in a good spot if you didn't sign a contract.

You iPhone is worth a pretty penny.

Denny Crane · Jul 11, 2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

Your username is... intriguingly appropriate.

Did they make you sign up for the plan at the store? Or are you truly without a plan? If they sent you home without a plan, you, my friend, have an untraceable iPhone. Unlock that puppy.

They make you sign the contract first. iTunes is the last thing they attempt to do.

Detlev · Jul 11, 2008, 09:56 AM

Apple Store in Natick, MA is now sending everybody home to activate.

boomtapp · Jul 11, 2008, 09:57 AM

same thing happened to me...
I was first in line...
Sat for 20 minutes at the store with the "waiting for itunes" crap...
then after I got the phone ready, it wont get service. Apparently, as of 8:45, only 1 phone has been successfully activated in Houston...

weak

Paix247 · Jul 11, 2008, 10:02 AM

I was first out of the store at my local AT&T. 16GB White, can't use it! They sent us out without activation and iTunes keeps returning with an error... ugh!! This sounds like it is going to be a widespread problem, so I hope it gets attention quickly.

alexplank · Jul 11, 2008, 10:03 AM

same problem here.

wadebarker · Jul 11, 2008, 10:03 AM

Same here. Sitting in the parking lot of the AT&T store trying to activate on a Verizon aircard and keep getting error -9838 in iTunes. Considering going back in but it seems like this problem is happening nationwide.

boomtapp · Jul 11, 2008, 10:04 AM

I've at least got mine at home where there is wireless internet so I can use it somewhat.. just not to make phone calls.

This is embarrassing for AT&T

alexplank · Jul 11, 2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevehp

Wow, talk about being in a good spot if you didn't sign a contract.

You iPhone is worth a pretty penny.

no, the activation is the only thing that is failing on such a large scale. AT&T's system has been able to handle the load. Apparently Apple's servers were not plentiful enough to satisfy all the activation requests.

It's ironic that apple failed instead of AT&T.

ert3 · Jul 11, 2008, 10:06 AM

Now when I try to home activate i get error -9838

and I have apparently no signal on my old iPhone (I used to always have atleast two bars)

boomtapp · Jul 11, 2008, 10:08 AM

what does going home to activate mean? I was told to go home and wait for the service to work. Am I supposed to do anything?

ert3 · Jul 11, 2008, 10:15 AM

use iTunes to activate it

Denny Crane · Jul 11, 2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexplank

no, the activation is the only thing that is failing on such a large scale. AT&T's system has been able to handle the load. Apparently Apple's servers were not plentiful enough to satisfy all the activation requests.

It's ironic that apple failed instead of AT&T.

That's what I understand too.. AT&T did the majority of their stuff right. iTunes is the problem. AT&T is not without fault, because their employees seemed lost as to what to do, but the majority of the fault lies with Mr. Jobs and company.

Denny Crane · Jul 11, 2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ert3

use iTunes to activate it

Easier said than done. Sitting at my home iMac trying to activate at this moment. iTunes is hosed.

Murphy'sLaw · Jul 11, 2008, 10:22 AM

I had the same problem as well, just keep trying to connect, I was able to get mine to sync about 5 mins ago

boomtapp · Jul 11, 2008, 10:26 AM

No,
I mean, Mine is synched and works fine. It's just that it says "no service" at the top. Once yours got synched, did the phone connection go through?

Thanks

kevin86 · Jul 11, 2008, 10:29 AM

My store could not unbrick the phone and wouldn't let me take it home. How can I convince them that I can do it at home?

ManWithoutPlan · Jul 11, 2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin86

My store could not unbrick the phone and wouldn't let me take it home. How can I convince them that I can do it at home?

KEvin: The manager should have gotten an email from ATT or APPLE... tell them to check it!

kevin86 · Jul 11, 2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManWithoutPlan

KEvin: The manager should have gotten an email from ATT or APPLE... tell them to check it!

Trying that now. I'll let you know.

abalboa3 · Jul 11, 2008, 10:40 AM

Just wanted to chime in. Was about 7th in line this morning. They activated about 3 people until they started sending everyone home to finish activating on their own. Sitting here trying to get this done. Finally got passed the error message, and now stuck at accessing iTunes store.

svndmvn · Jul 11, 2008, 10:42 AM

is it actually necessary to have an iTunes account in order to activate the iPhone or does it work like syncing iPods?is iTunes enough?

Jul 11, 2008, 09:51 AM	#1
ManWithoutPlan macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	AT&T Store COULD NOT Activate new iPhone 3G... Sent home to activate! OK... so I was the first in line at the ATT store... they unboxed my 16g white iPhone... went through the steps and it was taking forever to "unbrick" (activate) my phone. After about 20 mins the manager came over and said he just received email about "technical problems" and it said to send customers home with iPhone 3G to activate! ... Well.. im home.... trying to activate... and it is having the same problems! Stuck on "ACCESSING iTUNES STORE".... GREAT! Now I'm stuck without a phone for God knows how long! UPDATE: 9:32AM Just got an error (-4).... retried... now it says: "iPhone Activations Are UNAVAILABLE At This Time"!!!!!! This is horrible.... Way to go APPLE! UPDATE 2: 9:53AM Tried again... finally got to "Let's Get Started"... Now Restoring from previous backup... keeping my fingers crossed! FINAL UPDATE!!!! It finally works! 2 HRS after this whole process started! BS... just utter BS! LOL At least I have a WORKING 3G iPhone now... hopefully it wont have a lot of kinks... Best of luck guys! Last edited by ManWithoutPlan : Jul 11, 2008 at 10:58 AM. Reason: UPDATE STATUS

Jul 11, 2008, 09:52 AM	#2
ert3 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007	I was in line for 4 hours and had the same happen to me. I am currently trying with my Verizon air card. __________________ The Coffee Desk Vodka Diaries Deviant art

Jul 11, 2008, 09:55 AM	#5
stevehp macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: It's not a house, it's a home.	Wow, talk about being in a good spot if you didn't sign a contract. You iPhone is worth a pretty penny. __________________ 5.5G/80GB/White iPod 15" Unibody MBP/2.66GHZ/320GB HD/4GB RAM 24" Apple LED Cinema Display 32GB iPhone 3G S

Jul 11, 2008, 10:02 AM	#9
Paix247 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minneapolis	I was first out of the store at my local AT&T. 16GB White, can't use it! They sent us out without activation and iTunes keeps returning with an error... ugh!! This sounds like it is going to be a widespread problem, so I hope it gets attention quickly. __________________ 15" MBP 2.53GHz, 500GB 7200RPM, 4GB RAM 32GB Black iPhone 3G [S] VeganXpress

Jul 11, 2008, 10:06 AM	#14
ert3 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007	Now when I try to home activate i get error -9838 and I have apparently no signal on my old iPhone (I used to always have atleast two bars) __________________ The Coffee Desk Vodka Diaries Deviant art

Jul 11, 2008, 09:53 AM	#3
Tallest Skil Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 1 Geostationary Tower Plaza	Your username is... intriguingly appropriate. Did they make you sign up for the plan at the store? Or are you truly without a plan? If they sent you home without a plan, you, my friend, have an untraceable iPhone. Unlock that puppy.

Jul 11, 2008, 09:55 AM	#4
LePigeonBleu macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago	I'm having the same problem. ATT told me to go home to unbrick and finish activation, however, it's saying "Accessing iTunes Store" and won't load the page. I've waited this long to get the phone, finally did, and it isn't letting me activate. Anyone know a work-around, or troubleshooting tips? I've called ATT and they aren't sure. Please help! -mark

Jul 11, 2008, 09:56 AM	#7
Detlev macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2003	Apple Store in Natick, MA is now sending everybody home to activate.

Jul 11, 2008, 09:57 AM	#8
boomtapp macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	same thing happened to me... I was first in line... Sat for 20 minutes at the store with the "waiting for itunes" crap... then after I got the phone ready, it wont get service. Apparently, as of 8:45, only 1 phone has been successfully activated in Houston... weak

Jul 11, 2008, 10:03 AM	#10
alexplank macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008	same problem here.

Jul 11, 2008, 10:03 AM	#11
wadebarker macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas	Same here. Sitting in the parking lot of the AT&T store trying to activate on a Verizon aircard and keep getting error -9838 in iTunes. Considering going back in but it seems like this problem is happening nationwide.

Jul 11, 2008, 10:04 AM	#12
boomtapp macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	I've at least got mine at home where there is wireless internet so I can use it somewhat.. just not to make phone calls. This is embarrassing for AT&T

Jul 11, 2008, 10:08 AM	#15
boomtapp macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	what does going home to activate mean? I was told to go home and wait for the service to work. Am I supposed to do anything?

Jul 11, 2008, 10:15 AM	#16
ert3 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007	use iTunes to activate it __________________ The Coffee Desk Vodka Diaries Deviant art

Jul 11, 2008, 10:22 AM	#19
Murphy'sLaw macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: West Palm Beach, FL	I had the same problem as well, just keep trying to connect, I was able to get mine to sync about 5 mins ago

Jul 11, 2008, 10:26 AM	#20
boomtapp macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	No, I mean, Mine is synched and works fine. It's just that it says "no service" at the top. Once yours got synched, did the phone connection go through? Thanks

Jul 11, 2008, 10:29 AM	#21
kevin86 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2007	My store could not unbrick the phone and wouldn't let me take it home. How can I convince them that I can do it at home?

Jul 11, 2008, 10:40 AM	#24
abalboa3 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	Just wanted to chime in. Was about 7th in line this morning. They activated about 3 people until they started sending everyone home to finish activating on their own. Sitting here trying to get this done. Finally got passed the error message, and now stuck at accessing iTunes store.

Jul 11, 2008, 10:42 AM	#25
svndmvn macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Italy	is it actually necessary to have an iTunes account in order to activate the iPhone or does it work like syncing iPods?is iTunes enough?

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