I would think its easier to call AT&T, why make a trip to a store, when you can call them and have them update IEMI right over the phone.
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My iPhone isnt activating? Anyone else have this problem?
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I would think its easier to call AT&T, why make a trip to a store, when you can call them and have them update IEMI right over the phone.
Just got off the phone with AT&T.
Total time was about 15 minutes. The rep was very friendly and helpful. I bought my iPhone online from Apple. The rep said AT&T didn't even recognize me as having an iPhone and that there was no data plan on my account. Both of those attributed to me not having service for 18 hours. I figured buying it online would automatically add those, guess not!
I read the rep my IMEI and ICCID and a few reboots good to go!
Th Itunes Activation process is supposed to add the data plan, update the IMEI/ICCID numbers that it gets from the phone when you plug it in. Of course that process is slow as hell, I "Activated" via ITunes at 11AM yesterday (I eventually manually activated it myself by having an AT&T Representative manually add IMEI and ICCID to my account, I then logged in to the AT&T site and selected the iPhone Plan under Manage My Account->Features->IPhone Data) I was up and activated by lunch tie yesterday. This morning at 9:08AM, ITunes sent me and email to tell me my iPhone was now activated! LOL.
Basically its "roll your own activation"...
After 14 hours of waiting I called AT&T. The rep changed the IMEI and sim numbers added the $30 data plan instead of the $20 one that I had. I rebooted and it works perfect!
phone and sim don't match
Hey, for anyone having the issue of their phone not matching their sim (as per the itunes activation process), a thread in the apple.com discussion forum reported a fix. The fix appears to solve a problem when an iphone is received with a sim card already programmed with a number, and that sim card is replaced with another sim card programmed with a new number. This wouldn't pose so much of a problem except that upon entering the activation process with the new sim card (and never having gone through the process with the old sim card), the activation process is looking for the ICCID # (sim card) that the phone was shipped with.
The system returns a message stating that the sim card doesn't match the phone - obviously. So, you're supposed to take your old sim card (which shouldn't be active in ATT's system anymore b/c you now have a new sim and a new number), and go through the activation process with that old sim in the phone. The system will return whatever message it returns - and the phone does not get activated b/c the old sim is not active in the ATT system. However, you still satisfy the itune's condition that the phone connect to the activation process has its assigned sim card (originally assigned by apple in my case).
Thereafter, you're supposed to return to the activation process with your new sim card in phone, and follow the activation process and success (success after you finish the process, power down and power up again).
My question is, what happens when you don't have the old sim card that the phone came with? In my case, ATT (store rep) kept the old sim card in exchange for giving me a new sim card (and not charging me for the switch).?
Hey, for anyone having the issue of their phone not matching their sim (as per the itunes activation process), a thread in the apple.com discussion forum reported a fix. The fix appears to solve a problem when an iphone is received with a sim card already programmed with a number, and that sim card is replaced with another sim card programmed with a new number. This wouldn't pose so much of a problem except that upon entering the activation process with the new sim card (and never having gone through the process with the old sim card), the activation process is looking for the ICCID # (sim card) that the phone was shipped with.
The system returns a message stating that the sim card doesn't match the phone - obviously. So, you're supposed to take your old sim card (which shouldn't be active in ATT's system anymore b/c you now have a new sim and a new number), and go through the activation process with that old sim in the phone. The system will return whatever message it returns - and the phone does not get activated b/c the old sim is not active in the ATT system. However, you still satisfy the itune's condition that the phone connect to the activation process has its assigned sim card (originally assigned by apple in my case).
Thereafter, you're supposed to return to the activation process with your new sim card in phone, and follow the activation process and success (success after you finish the process, power down and power up again).
My question is, what happens when you don't have the old sim card that the phone came with? In my case, ATT (store rep) kept the old sim card in exchange for giving me a new sim card (and not charging me for the switch).?
It's been 16 hrs and nothing for me so far...
I called ATT last night and they said that there was nothing they could do after I gave them my ICCID and IMEI info.
So, I'm on the phone now w/ ATT and they said this time that I have never accepted the terms and conditions of my contract for the device.
So they send me to some area of telephone land, and it says to accept the terms push 1 - so I do, and it says "sorry we are having tech difficulties"
So, then the CS Rep comes back on, and says I have to re-register through iTunes AGAIN. Which I have no idea how I would do that, being that the phone was already plugged in and registered through iTunes once. So when I plug in, the only thing I can do is Sync.
So, they are saying that it may need to be activated through the Wireless Commerce people, since I bought it at ATT.com, but they are closed for the weekend. BUT, I am still on hold, so I guess maybe they will come back with a different answer.
Not a good first impression of ATT, especially after all the crap I have heard prior to "making the switch"
I will updated .............
I called ATT last night and they said that there was nothing they could do after I gave them my ICCID and IMEI info.
So, I'm on the phone now w/ ATT and they said this time that I have never accepted the terms and conditions of my contract for the device.
So they send me to some area of telephone land, and it says to accept the terms push 1 - so I do, and it says "sorry we are having tech difficulties"
So, then the CS Rep comes back on, and says I have to re-register through iTunes AGAIN. Which I have no idea how I would do that, being that the phone was already plugged in and registered through iTunes once. So when I plug in, the only thing I can do is Sync.
So, they are saying that it may need to be activated through the Wireless Commerce people, since I bought it at ATT.com, but they are closed for the weekend. BUT, I am still on hold, so I guess maybe they will come back with a different answer.
Not a good first impression of ATT, especially after all the crap I have heard prior to "making the switch"
I will updated .............
I just got off the phone and it appears that the sim card in my old Erickson phone is not compatible with the iPhone. I must go back to the store today to get a new card and resync.
Since I am going back I will see if they will give me a new pack of casemate screen protectors. I bought the 3 pack and had them put one on for me. When I got home I noticed the sleeve only had the cleaning cloth and was missing the two extra protectors and application card. ACK
Since I am going back I will see if they will give me a new pack of casemate screen protectors. I bought the 3 pack and had them put one on for me. When I got home I noticed the sleeve only had the cleaning cloth and was missing the two extra protectors and application card. ACK
I actually got an email back from apple saying activated, but no signal...
Weird, I was in the waiting game too. Actually, per getting the 3G last year and having AT&T pop out my 2G sim and put it in the 3G, I did the same without even thinking about it. Got the activation notice of 48 hour wait, but then phone activated. Then I started reading that you should use the sim that comes with the 3GS and took a look and they are indeed different. My 2G and the one that came with my 3G look the same, but the 3GS is definitely different in the metal side of the sim. Anyway, I put the 3GS sim back in and got no signal, so I did a restore from backup, still no signal. Full restore as new phone, and still no signal. Would still sync with iTunes so got it setup again and was just waiting. Got up this morning and had an email from Apple stating that the activation was now complete. Ah cool, must need a reboot to pick it up. Nope still no connection to cell network. Called AT&T today and got patched through to Apple support and they had me do a couple of things but basically said, server is hammered you'll just have to wait. So, I made one more call to AT&T and navigated to talking to a CSR. She didn't seem super knowledgeable about the whole situation and gave me the please wait canned response. I mentioned that I had read a few places that the main issues seem to stem from IMEI / ICCID not getting updated correctly and asked if she would verify mine. For me the IMEI had updated, but the ICCID (sim #) had not. She manually put in the # from my 3GS sim and that cleared things up. She was a bit nervous as my only phone at the house is my iPhone and since I was talking on my 3G since it's sim was still on my account. She asked it she could call back to make sure things were ok after she updated my record. Hung up, waited a couple of minutes and popped the sim in each phone. Put the 3G in first "No Service" good sign so far... Put in the 3GS... Searching... Searching... Searching... AT&T 3G!!! She called a couple of minutes later... "Mr. ***** which phone are you talking to me on?" 3GS! Worked like a charm. She seemed really excited as I'm sure has gotten a few of these. She even went back over the steps we took so she could make notes. Awesome CSR! Wasn't sure, took a little bit of a chance, and then noted the success so she could repeat it! Seemed to make her day as much as mine, pretty cool. Even makes me almost forget about the 3 restores and 25 hours since I got the phone
Weird, I was in the waiting game too. Actually, per getting the 3G last year and having AT&T pop out my 2G sim and put it in the 3G, I did the same without even thinking about it. Got the activation notice of 48 hour wait, but then phone activated. Then I started reading that you should use the sim that comes with the 3GS and took a look and they are indeed different. My 2G and the one that came with my 3G look the same, but the 3GS is definitely different in the metal side of the sim. Anyway, I put the 3GS sim back in and got no signal, so I did a restore from backup, still no signal. Full restore as new phone, and still no signal. Would still sync with iTunes so got it setup again and was just waiting. Got up this morning and had an email from Apple stating that the activation was now complete. Ah cool, must need a reboot to pick it up. Nope still no connection to cell network. Called AT&T today and got patched through to Apple support and they had me do a couple of things but basically said, server is hammered you'll just have to wait. So, I made one more call to AT&T and navigated to talking to a CSR. She didn't seem super knowledgeable about the whole situation and gave me the please wait canned response. I mentioned that I had read a few places that the main issues seem to stem from IMEI / ICCID not getting updated correctly and asked if she would verify mine. For me the IMEI had updated, but the ICCID (sim #) had not. She manually put in the # from my 3GS sim and that cleared things up. She was a bit nervous as my only phone at the house is my iPhone and since I was talking on my 3G since it's sim was still on my account. She asked it she could call back to make sure things were ok after she updated my record. Hung up, waited a couple of minutes and popped the sim in each phone. Put the 3G in first "No Service" good sign so far... Put in the 3GS... Searching... Searching... Searching... AT&T 3G!!!
She called a couple of minutes later... "Mr. ***** which phone are you talking to me on?" 3GS! Worked like a charm. She seemed really excited as I'm sure has gotten a few of these. She even went back over the steps we took so she could make notes. Awesome CSR! Wasn't sure, took a little bit of a chance, and then noted the success so she could repeat it! Seemed to make her day as much as mine, pretty cool. Even makes me almost forget about the 3 restores and 25 hours since I got the phone Sim Card Does Not Match - Possible Fix
I was the one who posted this fix on the Apple Support threads. I was not activating a new phone number, just upgrading my handset from the 3G to the 3GS trying to use the new sim that came with the new phone. It apparently has worked for a number of people and when att&t called this morning to check on my progress after all the trouble I had yesterday with this problem, I told them of this "fix" which they are going to start looking into as a possible solution.
After almost 22 hours of frustration, I managed to get past the Sim card does not match issue, I don't know if this will work for you - but here's what FINALLY worked for me. I took the deactivated sim card out of my iPhone 3G - the one which was shut off as part of the activation to the new sim for the 3GS. The old sim is NOT the one that AT&T recognizes as on my account anymore - only the new one (actually second new one since I went to the AT&T store last night after all my frustration and they replaced the non-working new one with a new new one).
Anyway, I put the old deactivated sim card into my new phone, went through the zip code and social security info, accepted the terms and then figured I would see for the 200th time the sim card does not match error. Instead, iTunes apparently liked the non working sim card better then the one which was supposed to work and told me that my phone was now going to wait for activation which could take up to 48 hours - that was the first time I ever got beyond the sim card error screen.
I popped out the old sim, popped in the sim card that I received last night and knew was active and then - Presto - my new phone is active and I am starting to restore my content now. I have no idea why this worked or if it will work for you - but having been frustrated for as long as I was, I know that I would be looking for anyone's suggestion. Everything tells me that this shouldn't have worked - but it did.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
I was the one who posted this fix on the Apple Support threads. I was not activating a new phone number, just upgrading my handset from the 3G to the 3GS trying to use the new sim that came with the new phone. It apparently has worked for a number of people and when att&t called this morning to check on my progress after all the trouble I had yesterday with this problem, I told them of this "fix" which they are going to start looking into as a possible solution.
After almost 22 hours of frustration, I managed to get past the Sim card does not match issue, I don't know if this will work for you - but here's what FINALLY worked for me. I took the deactivated sim card out of my iPhone 3G - the one which was shut off as part of the activation to the new sim for the 3GS. The old sim is NOT the one that AT&T recognizes as on my account anymore - only the new one (actually second new one since I went to the AT&T store last night after all my frustration and they replaced the non-working new one with a new new one).
Anyway, I put the old deactivated sim card into my new phone, went through the zip code and social security info, accepted the terms and then figured I would see for the 200th time the sim card does not match error. Instead, iTunes apparently liked the non working sim card better then the one which was supposed to work and told me that my phone was now going to wait for activation which could take up to 48 hours - that was the first time I ever got beyond the sim card error screen.
I popped out the old sim, popped in the sim card that I received last night and knew was active and then - Presto - my new phone is active and I am starting to restore my content now. I have no idea why this worked or if it will work for you - but having been frustrated for as long as I was, I know that I would be looking for anyone's suggestion. Everything tells me that this shouldn't have worked - but it did.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Finally decided to call AT&T after 20 hours of it not working. Talked to an AT&T rep who transferred me to an Apple rep who transferred me to an AT&T rep. He verified my IMEI/ICCID and said the problem was that AT&T had no knowledge of the iPhone on my account at all. He had to enter the sim card, add the data plan, add my text plan, delete my old plan and then activate my SIM card. I rebooted and it said ACTIVATED and it connected to 3G.
Why is this an issue? It's pretty simple with AT&T... just activate online [http://www.att.com/Activations], reboot your iphone 30 seconds later, and you're done.
I posted this on another forum and suddenly everyone was activated without a problem. RTFM! Or was I the only one to get an "M" in my box?
I posted this on another forum and suddenly everyone was activated without a problem. RTFM! Or was I the only one to get an "M" in my box?
Why is this an issue? It's pretty simple with AT&T... just activate online [http://www.att.com/Activations], reboot your iphone 30 seconds later, and you're done.
I posted this on another forum and suddenly everyone was activated without a problem. RTFM! Or was I the only one to get an "M" in my box?
Thats not working for my wife's phone. Mine activated immediately and her still doesn't want to comply. We are both coming from 2g's.
T
Tr0janMan08
Guest
Same problem as you PowerMyMac
Power, please let me know if you have any updates. It seems we have the same problem. I went to the ATT Store and they said it looks like my account is not even set up and will have to wait until Monday.
Thanks
Power, please let me know if you have any updates. It seems we have the same problem. I went to the ATT Store and they said it looks like my account is not even set up and will have to wait until Monday.
Thanks
Honestly, I would call AT&T. It may not be recognizing your new phone as the correct phone. I think what helped me yesterday was actually getting an At&T rep to change my IMEI number and get everything associated properly to my account. I was also upgrading from a first gen iPhone.
Or, have you tried activating with AT&T here? - https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/
edited to say... just read further down the thread where you say the above link didn't work. I would definitely call them! It can't hurt.
Here is what the problem really is (for me).
In attempting to port my number from verizon to att and back to verizon, my account was cancelled by an att store rep before the number ported back to verizon. So, the att system says that it still owns my number, yet no one can activate the number *yet* since the account was closed by the att store rep. Basically, my number is stuck in limbo, and I don't think I can activate my handset (regardless of sim changes) unless that original number is taken out of att's system. Verizon and ATT are working on the situation as we speak (on hold with them now), hopefully it'll all work out. I think my situation is unique. Everyone else seems to have a mismatch message for their sim and handset due to some other reason. Thanks to those who posted possible solutions, I appreciate it.
In attempting to port my number from verizon to att and back to verizon, my account was cancelled by an att store rep before the number ported back to verizon. So, the att system says that it still owns my number, yet no one can activate the number *yet* since the account was closed by the att store rep. Basically, my number is stuck in limbo, and I don't think I can activate my handset (regardless of sim changes) unless that original number is taken out of att's system. Verizon and ATT are working on the situation as we speak (on hold with them now), hopefully it'll all work out. I think my situation is unique. Everyone else seems to have a mismatch message for their sim and handset due to some other reason. Thanks to those who posted possible solutions, I appreciate it.
Why would be transferring a number from Verizon to AT&T and back again? Did you change your mind or you do you just like screwing with their staff?
I originally asked to port my number from verizon to att when I purchased the phone online (Port #1). Upon receiving the phone I decided against my decision, and walked into the att store to get a fresh number from them (and a fresh sim). However, I realized (when I went to make a call from my verizon phone) that my verizon number, somehow, was ported to att despite never plugging the phone into itunes (Port #2). So, I called verizon and asked them to port the number from att back to verizon (Port #3). About an hour later, I went back to the att store b/c the phone was still not working - they noticed I had two open lines tied to the same phone, so they cancelled the number that I originally asked to port over - this effectively cancelled the number while the port was still going through, and hung the number up in the att system.
I have since gotten my number back to verizon (fully ported), and now working with apple care to change the sim card assigned to my phone so that I can activate it. 25 minute wait. People couldn't be nicer though.
I have since gotten my number back to verizon (fully ported), and now working with apple care to change the sim card assigned to my phone so that I can activate it. 25 minute wait. People couldn't be nicer though.
my situation:
upgrading from 2g iphone
ordered from apple online
tried activating yesterday at 11:00 pst with no success
Solution:
Went to att store. They werent gonna help me, said all I could do was wait. Asked them to check my sim card, IMEI number. They looked it up and found that nothing was in the system. No data, no phone. So they gave me a new sim and added everything to my account. Activated immediately.
Seems like the itunes activation isnt doing it's job. The person who helped me (didnt seem to knowledgable) couldn't believe that my sister's activation worked through itunes but mine didnt. Seems as though when you activate with itunes its just the luck of the draw.
Hope this helps some people.
upgrading from 2g iphone
ordered from apple online
tried activating yesterday at 11:00 pst with no success
Solution:
Went to att store. They werent gonna help me, said all I could do was wait. Asked them to check my sim card, IMEI number. They looked it up and found that nothing was in the system. No data, no phone. So they gave me a new sim and added everything to my account. Activated immediately.
Seems like the itunes activation isnt doing it's job. The person who helped me (didnt seem to knowledgable) couldn't believe that my sister's activation worked through itunes but mine didnt. Seems as though when you activate with itunes its just the luck of the draw.
Hope this helps some people.
I tried to activate yesterday morning, but got a message that it can take up to 48 hours. After waiting 2 hours, I swapped in my old 3G sim into the new 3GS and the phone activated. Today at 4:00 PM after 30 hours, my old sim stopped working and my new sim was finally activated.
I asked the ATT rep if mine would have fixed itself after 48 hours if I hadn't called, even though ATT had no clue I even purchased an iPhone and didn't have my plan set up. His response was "well I'm not sure!"
So I'm guessing I would have had to make the call in the end. My advice is to call no matter what because they told me the problems they were experiencing yesterday should be fixed.
So I'm guessing I would have had to make the call in the end. My advice is to call no matter what because they told me the problems they were experiencing yesterday should be fixed.
It all worked fine until this afternoon when my 3GS stopped working. No more service. Unfortunately I didnt bring the new SIM with me while out of town, to see if putting that back in fixed it. Whoops
Hopefully, a call to AT&T or maybe connecting to a friends iTunes will help it.
If you own a 3 G can yo just switch the SIM card?
If you own a 3 G can you just switch the SIM card instaed of waiting for this activation nonsense?
I bought the new 3G S , but owned a 3 G. Same activation problem. Swapped the SIM, PERFECT. Does that affect functionality at all?
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If you own a 3 G can you just switch the SIM card instaed of waiting for this activation nonsense?
I bought the new 3G S , but owned a 3 G. Same activation problem. Swapped the SIM, PERFECT. Does that affect functionality at all?
Mac Pro 8 Core
Mac Book Pro
Apple TV
Apple Airport
Apple Mac book
Apple iMac