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AT&T Activations Servers Overloaded with iPhone 4S Launch
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I feel had. I was one of the "idiots" that was online for the midnight pre-order (which ended up starting 40 or so mins late). After about 2 hours I was able to order. I felt very good about the whole deal, elitist even knowing this is the first time I joined the chaos and was one of the "first ones".
I now have THREE friends that walked into an AT&T store this morning in the Phoenix area. One waited out front about an hour, the other 2 went to the same store and only waited 20 mins. All 3 walked out and there phones were activated by the time they got to the car. Me? The first adopter, like many of you.... still sitting here HOURS later trying to activate this damn thing. So much for being among the first.
Finally got through. 3 hours 20 mins.
Finally
Started around noon. Kept doing it for like 20 times. No luck.
Then 6 hours later, did it three times in a row on iPhone, wifi, and turned off the phone in between each time and then it worked the third time.
Good luck!
Started around noon. Kept doing it for like 20 times. No luck.
Then 6 hours later, did it three times in a row on iPhone, wifi, and turned off the phone in between each time and then it worked the third time.
Good luck!
They seemed to have changed tactics. After 3-4 hours of trying via WiFi and iTunes, I now see a new message like:
I did, and it is. Better.
I did, and it is. Better.
Made multiple attempts in iTunes with no success. It finally worked after 3 tries on wifi. Restoring from backup now!
Everyone I know who went and stood in line this morning to get theirs walked out of the store with an activated phone. I pre-ordered from Apple and got it this morning at 10:10AM local time, and I've been trying since then to activate it. It's now 3:45PM and still no luck.
I'm guessing the stores have a priority connection to the database.
6 Hours
Only took me 6 hours, but I finally activated my iPhone 4s. I'm on ATT grandfathered in on an unlimited data plan. So I guess it is possible. Crap that was long and difficult. Guess it was worth it.
Only took me 6 hours, but I finally activated my iPhone 4s. I'm on ATT grandfathered in on an unlimited data plan. So I guess it is possible. Crap that was long and difficult. Guess it was worth it.
Tried Numerous Times on iPhone and Via iTunes No Joy
Well the second time I tried activating via my computer it gave me some runner up prize by saying it would let me synch and use the iPhone 4's many features while I was waiting for activation of my phone service. It is installing the back-up now.
Ha, maybe I'll tape my 4 and 4s back to back so I can get the full experience
Prior to this I tried many times on the iPhone itself. If I were a new customer on AT&T with a new 4s I think I'd be ready to return the phone. After all of my issues trying to get iOS5 on my old iPhone 4 and iPad2 I guess I should have been prepared for the huge activation failure for the 4s that was delivered today.
I know ranting doesn't help, and in two days we'll all be back drinking the Kool-Aid, but this really is a black eye for AT&T and Apple.
Just send me to the land of the Lotus-eaters.
Well the second time I tried activating via my computer it gave me some runner up prize by saying it would let me synch and use the iPhone 4's many features while I was waiting for activation of my phone service. It is installing the back-up now.
Ha, maybe I'll tape my 4 and 4s back to back so I can get the full experience
Prior to this I tried many times on the iPhone itself. If I were a new customer on AT&T with a new 4s I think I'd be ready to return the phone. After all of my issues trying to get iOS5 on my old iPhone 4 and iPad2 I guess I should have been prepared for the huge activation failure for the 4s that was delivered today.
I know ranting doesn't help, and in two days we'll all be back drinking the Kool-Aid, but this really is a black eye for AT&T and Apple.
Just send me to the land of the Lotus-eaters.
Last edited:
Finally worked via iTunes after trying a few times on the phone and then in iTunes. Probably a 2 hour delay from start to finish.
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A friend got his at a store today and that's what the Apple employee told him. He had zero delay for activation at around 3 PM EDT.
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A friend got his at a store today and that's what the Apple employee told him. He had zero delay for activation at around 3 PM EDT.
still stuck with the "your sim card does not match" problem that arose after at&t attempted to manually activate my phone
i called them back, and they read it back to me and it was correct. i can't access anything, and i don't think i can even attempt to activate the phone. very disappointed. been on hold calling back at&t for some time now.
i called them back, and they read it back to me and it was correct. i can't access anything, and i don't think i can even attempt to activate the phone. very disappointed. been on hold calling back at&t for some time now.
can take over an hour for the changes to propagate though the system, att told me there is an hour delay.
its been very many hours.
once i get them back on the phone i'm going to have them re-enter it. i wonder if apple has to also do the same thing?
once i get them back on the phone i'm going to have them re-enter it. i wonder if apple has to also do the same thing?
Sorry if this has been discussed... I am trying to avoid reading through 14 pages of comments that *might* pertain to my question. Thanks in advanced.
I never even got to the activation part. I plugged the new phone in.. synced all my data. It did the new iPhone set up. Asked me to login with my Apple ID, asked if I want to send Apple data, choose a wifi network, all of that part... but it never asked me how to set up the new phone AKA as a new phone, back up from iCloud, etc like I have seen in some pictures.
Is anyone else experiencing this where they never actually get the choice to try and activate it? Siri is working as my wifi is set up. All my data/pics/contacts are synced. But there is a "No Service" at the top left and I have no way to activate it or even try. I connected to iTunes but it just sees it as a normal iPhone and asks to backup, restore, sync.
Thoughts? Answers?
Thanks
I never even got to the activation part. I plugged the new phone in.. synced all my data. It did the new iPhone set up. Asked me to login with my Apple ID, asked if I want to send Apple data, choose a wifi network, all of that part... but it never asked me how to set up the new phone AKA as a new phone, back up from iCloud, etc like I have seen in some pictures.
Is anyone else experiencing this where they never actually get the choice to try and activate it? Siri is working as my wifi is set up. All my data/pics/contacts are synced. But there is a "No Service" at the top left and I have no way to activate it or even try. I connected to iTunes but it just sees it as a normal iPhone and asks to backup, restore, sync.
Thoughts? Answers?
Thanks
Having the exact same SIM issue. AT&T has verified over and over that it is correct in my account, and have even had them issue me a brand new one. Still giving me the same SIM error.
Did you get any resolution on this? AT&T blames it on Apple, Apple blames AT&T. Seriously frustrated at this point.
Same here called about 45 minutes ago roughly to get my sim card setup for the new iPhone and its still not matching yet. Guess we'll see what happens in the next few hours.
I purchased mine on a different number on my account and watched to switch one of my other lines to the 4S so thats why I had to call in and get the sim switched over correctly. Is that what everyone else in a similar situation was doing?
I purchased mine on a different number on my account and watched to switch one of my other lines to the 4S so thats why I had to call in and get the sim switched over correctly. Is that what everyone else in a similar situation was doing?
I have now put the SIM from my IP4 line into the IP4S to see if that appeases the activation gods. My wife's 3GS has officially been off cell connectivity for 3 hours now.
Yep. That needed to happen and I am now good. Activated with the swapped SIM, turned off phone, switched back and good to go.
Yes, I am in same exact situation. AT&T blaming Apple and specially blaming being bought from apple.com and now waiting on phone for help from apple.
Don't feel bad people, I'm still waiting for UPS to deliver mine. It's been on the truck out for delivery since 8:41am and I just got home again 5:15pm looking forward to new iPhone 4s and still have not delivered, presign form still on door! They say until 7:00pm, all my other pre-orders were FedEx and delivered by 10:30am every time!!!
All I can say is UPS sucks compared to FedEx!!!
All I can say is UPS sucks compared to FedEx!!!