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Did you have to receive an e-mail with a iTunes link to get it unlocked?

i received an email, but i didn't need to click anything in it to make it work.

essentitally the key was she told me to turn off the phone for a bit and she was going to hit "UPDATE"

that seemed to do the trick.
 
This is for everyone porting from another carrier. Cancel your activation and start over by getting a new number from AT&T. Tomorrow you can call their porting department to get your old number transfered over. My phone is activated now.
 
This is for everyone porting from another carrier. Cancel your activation and start over by getting a new number from AT&T. Tomorrow you can call their porting department to get your old number transfered over. My phone is activated now.


I did that today and they told me that I would have my number ported by 8 and as of 10. NO LUCK! I hate att
 
23 hours in & No Activation

Clearly AT&T is not only unprepared and overwhelmed but has made nothing but a snafu of the activation process. I've been on the phone with them repeatedly (hours -up to 4 so far) and many times I've been told it's all good and should go through but then to get an email right afterwards saying they need more information or my address isn't right and that I need to call them back. Why can't they get this straight the first couple of times is all I ask? I'm pretty darned frustrated now and disappointed. I waited 3 hours in line at and AT&T store, sold out, then went to an Apple store and had one in 5 minutes.
Honestly I have spent the whole day on the phone trying to sort out one issue after the other or on hold. F.AT&T
They had better get this straightened out. I will feel burned for a long time which I'll remember and share with others who are sure to ask how I like my iPhone. :mad:
 
One possible solution

Finally got activated after just over 26 hours. Numerous calls to the activation support number indicated everything was in order on my account, and recommended i just be patient and wait it out. Finally got through to one knowledgeable rep who pulled up my account and realized I had my old Cingular/AT&T MediaWorks package attached to my existing account, which is incompatible with the MMV1/2/3 features needed for the iPhone. Anyhow, if you ever activated MediaWorks for internet access on your previous AT&T phone, it has to be removed to get things working.
Hope that helps at least one person.
 
Not that I have anything substantial to add to this thread, but I too have been waiting 27+ hours now for the phone to be activated, so I figured I'd at least add my whiny voice to the group. I bought two phones last night, one of which I started activation on last night - I got the "activation requires additional time to complete" message. This line was a former ATT/Cingular line, just replacing a Blackberry with an iPhone. It still shows no progress. Tonight, I tried activating the second one, and got the same message - this line is a Verizon port. Since trying to get the second phone working, I've gotten one e-mail saying that they are currently processing the order and giving me an order number. And only one of those. I spoke to a whole host of people at the various numbers floating around, the latest of whom confirmed that the first phone's plan has all been changed over (which I knew... it was done manually at about 1 this afternoon), and that the second is pending a port, and gave me an exact date and time that that should be done by. I'm now thinking that the second is under way (and just delayed, as usual), and the first somehow got lost or hung up on something last night. I guess, the question is, what (if anything) is there to try doing at this point? I think I'm just going to have them cancel the activation on the first one and try it over again, does that make sense to anyone else? I suppose I could also take it/them to the apple store now and see if they'd help me (obviously, it's an ATT problem, but maybe I'll find someone helpful...) .
Sorry for the rambling post... It's been quite a while. =)
 
Just over 24 hours here, and I think the call I just finished may have helped and provided some info I haven't seen here.

Here's my basic info, so you can compare:

Existing Cingular/ATT Customer
Started 10:45p EDT yesterday
BB Pearl went to invalid SIM instantly
iPhone SIM works in BB Pearl
Called to have my account changed in case that was an issue.

Here's the good part:

I got a really helpful tech who said that I still had a couple features on my account that conflicted with the iPhone plan (and he confirmed that this problem was preventing activation for me). One was an old phone insurance feature (apparently not the current one, though it doesn't cover an iPhone in any event).

The other was NOIN, TYPE 1. It's listed under added features on my ATT account page. He could not remove it himself, and he had to refer it to another department to fix it. He said that once it is gone the IPhone data plan can be added, and my phone will activate.

Hope this helps some others who have been waiting a long time. I'm still waiting too, but this seems like progress (finally!).

I just received another "currently processing" email, but I've learned not to pay any attention to those.
 
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?

I specifically said, I'm stuck in your system and I've called several times already. My old number has been ported and is no longer working on my old phone. My new phone is not yet activated, can you manually activate my phone because I am dead in the water here.

That seemed to ring their bell and she said sure... and I was through within a matter of minutes.

- Eric

PS - Its worth the wait folks.
 
After getting off the phone at about 8:45 where the CSR said I was absolutely activated....I docked my iPhone and then got my activation complete e-mail at about 10:40

Finally!!!
 
I've now been waiting for 28 hrs & 20 mins for the infamous activation process to complete.

Using 877-419-4500 I've spoke to multiple reps and the closest I've gotten is that they received an error message when trying to manually add the iPhone $20 data plan "mmv1". The error was that billing code "wixc" needed to be removed first. Rep did that and successfully added the iPhone data plan to my existing Cingular account. I confirmed this addition from looking at my account on the Cingular site. He then asked me to reboot the iPhone hoping that would solve the prob - well no luck.. I'm still stuck..

Suggested I continue to wait until Sunday morning and if it's still not working then to call back.

Something else I found out that hasn't been mentioned yet. Depending on where your account is located there's a different billing system used. The first few reps I spoke to weren't trained on my billing system and were limited in what they could do. I'm located in NC and my billing system is called "Care". Finally got a rep in Ontario, Canada who had the proper access to add the iPhone data plan.
 
So, the email said to wait 24 hours and I have. My old phone is working as it shouldn't (meaning it's working like it used to) and my iPhone is NOT receiving calls. What should I do?
 
My iPhone Story

So I waited in line for 12 hours in the Florida heat and purchased two iPhones at my local AT&T store. I was even on the front page of our local story with an interview:

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/6934

Now everyone I know is calling or e-mailing to let me know they saw me in the paper and "How's the iPhone?". I wish I knew!! I'm in activation hell like most of you going on 28 hours now. It all began because the checkout person at the store spelled my name "Janes" instead of "James". This played havoc with my account and go me off to a bad start. After about 3 hours on the phone talking to five different people, I'm assured that is corrected and I'm just to wait 2 or 3 days to get activated. How do I show my face at work on Monday with no operating iPhone to show??

James
iPhone-less
 
It sucks that you all have had a hard time. From plugging my phone into the computer to total activation including porting from T-Mobile took about 10-15 minutes for me. It seems like a lot of you have corporate accounts and smart phones, does this seem to be the issue or did I just luck out. I only had a PEBL so I didn't have any data plan or anything.
 
OK i just recently signed up for at&t last week and they gave me a phone number to use. How do i change that number to my current TMobile number which I use. Im not sure how to do this I just got the IPhone and dont wanna screw things up any help would be great thanks.
 
Just an update to all I got mine working!... I sat with my phone "Waiting for AT&T Activation - This may take some time." for about 4 hours. Rebooting the phone did not help. Removed the SIM & re-inserted without any luck. Called AT&T twice, Apple twice, no help...

Finally, I called AT&T and said that I'd done the iTunes activation, the phone was unlocked but "waiting for activation." I explained that Apple had said the hold up was on AT&T's end. I lied and said Apple told me to have the IMEI # checked... she looked over my account, made a "hmm" noise, and said, AH - your phone should be active now. BAM - It went from No Bars/No Service to Full service and AT&T. I asked what was wrong, and she said there wasn't an issue she just was going to re-send the activation signal.

The number I called was 1-877-419-4500

Give them you iPhone telephone number

This will probably only help those of you who are getting the message "Waiting for AT&T Activation - This may take a while"

Good luck!

I HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS POST SAVED MY DAY. They fixed an ERROR in my IMEI# and BAM 5 mins later I'm syncing!!!!
 
When I receive my BILL:

Dear AT&T,

"Your monthly statement requires additional time to complete.
You will receive an email confirmation once the rubber check is complete."


FAQ:

1) Is it really necessary to make our customers wait 1-2 days for activation?
2) On a scale of 1-10, how annoyed do you suppose our customers were that they were denied an iPhone at an ATT store, when the Apple store had PLENTY of phones?
3) ...add your own...


AT&T. Your World. Delivered... (revised)...
AT&T. Your Day. Wasted.
 
The entire process

Lined up at 5:30 am at the Apple store - was second in life
Waited twelve hours for the store to open
Was the first one out of the store with an iPhone
Drive home, plug it in, and wait
Email: my account requires additional info (turn out they don't accept P.O. boxes - wish i had been told that sooner)
Update billing address, and wait
Fall asleep, wake up, check laptop - no new email from Apple
Browse these forums while at work - find out i need to update my plan from being ATT Blue (wish i had known that sooner)
Update plan and IMEI numbers
Decide to call 877-800-3701 - wait on hold for an hour
Have some sweet lady check absolutely everything on my account - she assures me everything is fine now and my iPhone will activate tonight

Not to sound picky, but i really wish i had know a lot of things beforehand so i could have updated my account info BEFORE purchasing the iPhone - or maybe while i waited in line for 12 hours

Oh well, i don't want to curse myself. I guess i'll wait patiently... i just wish i could play with it already - will post the second i get the email (been waiting on wait cycle number 3 since 8:30 pm pacific time
 
Just called AT&T again (877-419-4500--they answer almost immediately), figuring I'd make at least one more attempt before I go to sleep to get some type of information. Turned out to be another useless call, the CSR said everything appeared to be correct in my account, that there were no conflicting features that would prevent activation and that I simply had to wait. She apologized several times for the delay while I (politely) ranted about how stupidly ridiculous this whole process was. I also stated that if my phone is not activated tomorrow morning I will be returning it and certainly will never choose AT&T again (and have been a customer for at least 10 years).

Did I mention how grossly incompetent AT&T is? This whole experience is leaving a really bad taste in my mouth.

28 hours and counting! YAY!

..Al
 
Just called AT&T again (877-419-4500--they answer almost immediately), figuring I'd make at least one more attempt before I go to sleep to get some type of information. Turned out to be another useless call, the CSR said everything appeared to be correct in my account, that there were no conflicting features that would prevent activation and that I simply had to wait. She apologized several times for the delay while I (politely) ranted about how stupidly ridiculous this whole process was. I also stated that if my phone is not activated tomorrow morning I will be returning it and certainly will never choose AT&T again (and have been a customer for at least 10 years).

Did I mention how grossly incompetent AT&T is? This whole experience is leaving a really bad taste in my mouth.

28 hours and counting! YAY!

..Al

I'm with you. I'm giving up for the night. Time to go drink.
 
apple store?

I know it's totally an ATT problem, but, since I've been waiting well above a day now - should I just go to an Apple store and see if any kind person will help out?
 
I final got a hold of a lady who seemed to know what she was talking about. She said my IME # was wrong on my account so she transfered me to some other lady who was able to change the IME#...that was about an hour ago...still waiting for something to happen....
 
I know it's totally an ATT problem, but, since I've been waiting well above a day now - should I just go to an Apple store and see if any kind person will help out?

That's what I was told when I called tonight.
The guy at the Apple store said to make an appt. through the Apple web site to speak to a Mac genius and that they'd make sure I was happy when I left.

If you have the time to do that, and don't want to wait any longer, book the appointment.
 
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