AT&T Activations Servers Overloaded with iPhone 4S Launch

Apple can figure how to build and ship this many phones and stupid ATT can't figure out how to have enough bandwidth for activation.

No wonder most of us hate ATT.
 
I've been trying for an hour to no avail, and took a 20 minute break. Itunes s not working, and worse, I can't restart the process in itunes without replugging in the phone.
 
h0mi said:
I've been trying for an hour to no avail, and took a 20 minute break. Itunes s not working, and worse, I can't restart the process in itunes without replugging in the phone.
Click to expand...

I can't activate on iTunes either, and yes it is annoying to have to replug the phone. so sigh.
 
Different story

I was just on the phone with AT&T tech support and she told me that the problem was with Apple's switch that is handling the activations. She seemed confident and indicated the Apple switch was not handing the traffic that iTunes is creating.
 
..... if they didn't require me to re agree to the terms of service every time I could repeat the process more often and more quickly....

I have an idea.. everyone reading this stop trying at 2:40PM EST sharp. that should create a small window for me to get through the activation servers :D
 
ChuckJ said:
I was just on the phone with AT&T tech support and she told me that the problem was with Apple's switch that is handling the activations. She seemed confident and indicated the Apple switch was not handing the traffic that iTunes is creating.
Click to expand...

i heard the same. she said everything on her end looks good.
 
ChuckJ said:
I was just on the phone with AT&T tech support and she told me that the problem was with Apple's switch that is handling the activations. She seemed confident and indicated the Apple switch was not handing the traffic that iTunes is creating.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it was the same lady that told the other guy in this thread to start downloading iOS5. :rolleyes:
 
It's actually an Apple issue

I called a At&t rep and they said it was not their servers that is causing the issue.

The way it works is that the iTune's servers controls all the activation's. From Sprint,Verizon, and At&t. So the iTune's servers are just overloaded due to the biggest demand for the iPhone yet.

The At&t rep basically patched me into Apple technical support and they confirmed this.

Now if Verizon and Sprint people are not having problems, then maybe Apple has partitioned its activation servers for each service separately.

Based on this it seems At&t would have the most activations, mostly like due to previous iPhone owners upgrading. Only 2nd rev of iPhone 4, allows other official wireless partners (Verizon). So mostly like people who have iPhone 4 for Verizon would not upgrade. So Verizon and Sprint are seeing just new subscribers.

This is not Apple's fault either. They can't predict that iPhone 4s would of done this well. Pre-mature optimization is not good as they say.

So as of now it's a matter of luck if you get activated.
 
Ironically, bet it's an issue of too many people trying at once. Bet we could all be activated if we did it methodically.
 
Try to restart the phone! That's what I did, then plugged into iTunes and it worked straight away.
 
Yes! I just got an email from Apple

alas, it was from Apple Vacations. Blech. I thought I'd gotten that "email notification once your activation is compete". Ho hum...
 
The AT&T rep told me that once you get the message to wait for the email, you're in the activation queue, and trying again does nothing to move you up in line. So once you get the message that your activation is pending, you should just chill and let the queue process.

I'm really frustrated too but there's nothing to do about it.
 
conventional wisdom & good advice would say "spamming the activation servers only makes this worst so please chill, and try back later"

but it's the few people in this thread that have stated that "they kept trying and it eventually worked!" ... that keep me driven and spamming away. :-D
 
To All those that said this was an "EPIC FAIL"

Apple is surely laughing...:D They are selling like crazy! All the best to Steve!
 
Bartboy919 said:
You get an email, or did you continually spam?
Click to expand...

Phone said it was activated three hours ago, but the actual phone portion never would work...finally received a signal. I was able to do everything else on the phone (email, iTunes synching, iCloud)...all through wifi.
 
Soleoto said:
Anyone try switching sims?
Click to expand...

Switching SIM's doesn't solve the issue. I tried. The phone already was programmed with my phone number, which was mildly impressive. The good news is that the "old" phone still works pending activation of the new one.

On another note, this phone's mute switch is about a sixteenth of an inch lower which misses the notch in the protective case. I used my knife to seem it out until I find something else more suitable.
 
Repeat
"Try again using WiFi"
"Try again over Cellular"
"your activation is still pending. try again"
Repeat
 
boss1 said:
Repeat
"Try again using WiFi"
"Try again over Cellular"
"your activation is still pending. try again"
Repeat
Click to expand...

If only, I've gone through hell and High water trying to get this iPhone, but that story is for another time. Point is, it really sucks that through all the woe I have encountered, I still can't use the damn thing. The Retina screen is nice looking though.
 
Sure it's frustrating to not be activated when you get your new phone.. but people thinking AT&T should build out their servers or is suddenly has crap service need a reality check. No other company on the planet has dealt with the amount of activations trying to happen in the same 6 to 12 hour window. More iPhones are on AT&T than any other US based carrier and this will happen every time a new iPhone is released.

You don't hear about these issues with VZW or Sprint because no Android or Win mo every sells this many phones. Period. 1 million pre orders + lord knows how many being sold in stores all trying to hit a bank of servers at the same time.

If you have a solution, you should run out and build a network to handle that volume.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top