My iPhone isnt activating? Anyone else have this problem?

[cmaier]

I just called AT&T. The guy told me to swap SIMs out of my 3G. I asked him three times if this would be a temporary solution that would fail when they sent out the activation, and he said no.

Swapping worked. Guess we'll see if I need to swap sims back in the next 48 hours.

 

[rsmith83]

I swapped out the SIMs and my 3GS is working, but the internet only shows EDGE and not 3G. Does this have something to do with using a SIM from my original 2G phone?

 

[GeeDuhb]

I swapped out the SIMs and my 3GS is working, but the internet only shows EDGE and not 3G. Does this have something to do with using a SIM from my original 2G phone?

I probably has to do with the fact that if you had the 2g iPhone, you only had edge on your account. Once it is activated, you should have 3g.

 

[loup407]

been waiting for activation for 5 1/2 hours

Have tried turning everything off, etc. As I'll be in the mountains out of cell range all weekend, it's not a tragedy, but I hope to heck I'll have a cell signal on Sunday night!

 

[JKColo22]

Definately call them if your phone still hasn't activated. It still took mine a good 30 30-45 mins before it activated but they definately did not have the right IMEI/ICCID on their servers. YAY! 3GS finally activated. Good luck everyone!

 

[phaggard]

I activated my 3GS at 0900 (PACIFIC) and it is still waiting foir actual activation. Itunes said this morning that due to the mass amount of activations it could take up to 48 hours to activate.

 

[Nikos]

I ended up using the sim card from my 3G. I'm wondering if it will be deactivated eventually or if I'm safe. I might call them up anyway.

 

[albatross83]

So first I got the 48 hour notice... waited 3 hours, and nothing, so I tried putting in my old SIM. It activated immediately, but my AT&T plan didn't change from my old WinMo Smartphone, so the only thing that worked was voice.

I called 611, spoke with a representative who seemed quite confused as to how I had managed to get the phone working at all, but after I gave her my IMEI, she fixed my service plan to an "iPhone" plan, and now everything is working great.

 

[ldobson]

The ITunes Process does the following:
* Updates the AT&T system with the new phone IMEI and ICCID
* Adds the IPhone Data/Text Plan
* Updates Contract Length (If Applicable)

As has been mentioned you can "Jump" the queue by calling AT&T and requesting they upgrade this information.

You can also log in to your AT&T account and add the Iphone Data Plan to your account, which will give you 3G data service.

 

[iTouchIt]

OK, confused about the activation process. I launched itunes and plugged my phone in. My phone says waiting for activation but nothing popped up in itunes. WTF am I doing wrong?

 

[ophelan]

I just called business support after waiting all afternoon; got through to an agent right away. They had to correct the IMEI, SIM number, and move me over to an iPhone data plan; after this, the iPhone activated after a reboot.

 

[cmaier]

hmmm. my visual voicemail isn't working - it calls in.

 

[wr1020]

So mine came around 1:10pm pacific and man was i excited when i saw the fedex truck stop right in front of my house. Opened the box hooked it up to itunes and i was up and running in basically a minute. I was thinking since the servers would be slammed it would take me forever to activate but it did it in a minute or less. My first iphone and man is she pretty, i love it.

 

[Ishimaru]

I just called business support after waiting all afternoon; got through to an agent right away. They had to correct the IMEI, SIM number, and move me over to an iPhone data plan; after this, the iPhone activated after a reboot.

Geez us, mine isn't at all The rep told me I was SOL. I've tried everything.

 

[bitslap47]

hmmm. my visual voicemail isn't working - it calls in.

Call in, listen to the lady talk, hit *.

Close phone app. A prompt will pop up to enter your vm pin. viola.

 

[Lou142]

Anyone have this problem:

I received the iphone with the sim card on which a number was programmed (that number was to be ported over from Verizon, but decided against it). So, I went and got a new sim card, with a new number from ATT. ATT tells me good to go on the new number. I plug into the activation process and itunes tells me that the sim card in the phone does not belong to the phone (the activation process is looking for the original sim card).

Could it be possible that the activation process (specifically the database from which the activation process gets its information) needs time to register the new association between my iphone and my new sim card?

Please help anyone.

 

[TheMadBrewer]

Same problems, no activation after 3 hours. Called ATT and the nice lady said the problems seem to be with those who upgraded online. She checked my IMEI number and it was still there for my Original iPhone. She changed it and had me power cycle but no joy. She said that if it doesn't activate my morning, take it in to a store.

BTW, I seem to remember when I got my Original iPhone there was one of those plastic credit card thingies with the sim card broken out (obviously, since the sim was in the phone). Didn't get one this time. Is that the case with everybody or am I missing something. This mean I don't know the sim pin if I need it.

UPDATE: 4:50pm PDT

Tried the swap sims between the old and new phones and when I put everything back it activated (and I get 3G on the status bar)

 

[hkip37]

phone wasn't activating with the new sim, so i stuck my ooold (non 3g) sim card in and it activated. probably go by a store later one day to have them put a new card in

 

[Nikos]

Called AT&T, very easy process. They just need your IMEI and ICCID.

 

[trellisaze]

I'm in Seattle. I just turned my 3GS completely off and then back on again. Activated in 5 seconds.

I suggest everyone try that a few times.

I'm in Olympia, having the same activation problem. I'm upgrading from a first gen iPhone. I've tried turning both phones off and on, and my old one still has service but my new one isn't activating.

Does it need to be plugged into iTunes when you reboot the phone, or does that matter?

 

[paulvdb]

I switch my SIM card from my 2G, to my 3GS and its working fine now. 3G icon appeared at the top, and browsing at 3G speed.

 

[fad1]

My sister just recieved her white iPhone 3G s, and it wasnt activating, so my sister called at&t and the rep said you have to turn your phone off and then restart. If it still does not work, then you give the carrier a call. Its working fine now. Now, I cant wait for my phone

 

[rglatter]

just activated mine. I upgraded from a 2g iphone. I had no issues activating. I did it at about 5 CST. As soon as the phone booted up for the first time after doing the initial restore which took about 15-20 min it said Iphone is activated.

 

[boymom75]

on the phone with ATT. With our family plan, somehow our data plans were gone on the two upgraded phones (while I did remove shared texting and add it back later, I didn't remove data plans when I bought them, so who knows). She reset the data plans, reentered the IMED and that other number (whatever they are), and still no luck. Now she's calling Apple.

I bet once again, this is a family plan issue, and/or apple-ATT not shaking hands very well.

 

[trellisaze]

Well, I called AT&T when my phone wasn't activating and the CSR was helpful, got my IMEI number and was attempting to activate it for me... well this of course caused my old phone (which I was using to call - no landline or other phone available for me) to lose service and disconnect. Now my new one won't activate either, so I am phone-less and just waiting it out I guess.