I ordered my new 3GS under my wifes line on our family plan. I have a 3G, she doesn't have an Iphone. This morning when I got my 3GS I called ATT and told them I wanted to put the IMEI of the new 3GS on my line with the old 3G. Afterwards I activated the 3GS and it told me to wait possibly up to 2 days to activate due to the overload of activations. I have been waiting all day for it to activate. After reading on this forum this afternoon I tried to swap my old 3G SIM with the new 3GS SIM and it immediately activated.
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My iPhone isnt activating? Anyone else have this problem?
- Thread starter DeuceDeuce
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I registered just to tell people how I finally got this fixed (it's 7:20pm and I've been waiting since 11 am):
I tried using my old BlackBerry's SIM card, and voice and sms worked, but I couldn't get any data working. So after I put the SIM card that came in the iPhone back in, I called 611. I was told to just wait. Three times. I still kept insisting until I got the right representative to help me. She asked for my IMEI and my ICCID (which I got from the iPhone's About menu) and then as I was talking (silly me called from the same line with the old phone), the call was dropped. I restarted my iPhone, and it automatically registered with AT&T. The rep. called me a few minutes later and she said that she fixed it, removed my blackberry data package, and added the corresponding iPhone one.
I tested both voice and data, and everything seems to be working just fine. The old SIM card was also deactivated.
Hope this helps someone out there. Just keep insisting!
I tried using my old BlackBerry's SIM card, and voice and sms worked, but I couldn't get any data working. So after I put the SIM card that came in the iPhone back in, I called 611. I was told to just wait. Three times. I still kept insisting until I got the right representative to help me. She asked for my IMEI and my ICCID (which I got from the iPhone's About menu) and then as I was talking (silly me called from the same line with the old phone), the call was dropped. I restarted my iPhone, and it automatically registered with AT&T. The rep. called me a few minutes later and she said that she fixed it, removed my blackberry data package, and added the corresponding iPhone one.
I tested both voice and data, and everything seems to be working just fine. The old SIM card was also deactivated.
Hope this helps someone out there. Just keep insisting!
I am not sure why AT&T are calling apple, all that needs to happen is that AT&T need to change your SIM and IMEI on their system, you then need to power cycle your phone. This is exactly what the ITunes Activation Process does, it just that its bogged down with activations.
well, guess what. Called ATT again. They did NOT enter the new sim number when I called earlier to change my SIM AND IM-WHATEVER number. They still had my old sim number. Now it's fixed. And activated. My advice: be very clear with them and double check!
livingonvideo13
macrumors regular
I tried activating mine around noon today and got the "This may take 48 hours" thing. I waited for about 3 hours and then just took the sim card out of my 1st gen phone (updated to 3.0) and put it in the new 3gs and now working.
Try this one on for size...
Girlfriend orders new 32GB 3G S from apple store to replace Blackberry Pearl as Father's Day present...gets to her work, she visits local authorized ATT store they terminate my current SIM and "activate" the SIM with the 3GS...get home from work and go to sync with Itunes...and get this message, "The SIM card in your IPhone does not match the SIM card on your account." 3 calls to ATT and APPLE and no one can figure out how to fix it...
SOLUTION (Per Apple and ATT)...go to a store tomorrow (I work 14 hours tomorrow of course) and see if they can fix it...may have to get a new SIM/Phone/Both...
Slightly annoyed in my 1st experience with the IPhone...😡
Girlfriend orders new 32GB 3G S from apple store to replace Blackberry Pearl as Father's Day present...gets to her work, she visits local authorized ATT store they terminate my current SIM and "activate" the SIM with the 3GS...get home from work and go to sync with Itunes...and get this message, "The SIM card in your IPhone does not match the SIM card on your account." 3 calls to ATT and APPLE and no one can figure out how to fix it...
SOLUTION (Per Apple and ATT)...go to a store tomorrow (I work 14 hours tomorrow of course) and see if they can fix it...may have to get a new SIM/Phone/Both...
Slightly annoyed in my 1st experience with the IPhone...😡
I would be annoyed too, but hang in there, hopefully there is an easy fix and the phone is worth it.
Obviously this is a thread to assist folks who are having issues getting their new phone activated. With that in mind, I'd like to interject a brief word of encouragement to anyone viewing this thread who, like myself, is not a technology guru. Please understand that it's also possible that your activation process could go very smoothly. My new 32GB 3GS is replacing an older 8GB iPhone running on 3.0. At 8:50pm local L.A. time, I took the new iPhone out of it's box, I plugged it into my G5, it launched iTunes, I typed in my zip code and last 4 of the SSN, agreed to the terms of service, and then waited approximately 10 seconds until my new phone showed 5 bars, a 3G network connection and gave me a successful activation message. It's sincerely not my intention to rub it in the noses of folks who are experiencing difficulties. I just want to make sure that neophytes like myself who are doing this for the first time don't get discouraged before they even start. 🙂 This may also be an indication that the iTunes servers are starting to catch up with the workload. Good luck to all, and many thanks to those who have already been so generous sharing their knowledge in this thread. I thankfully didn't run into any activation problems myself, but I sure felt like I would have been well prepared if I had.
A quick update before I call it quits for tonight...
Called back to ATT to verify the correct SIM card was registered in their system. According to the rep it was correct and the only recourse was to visit a retail outlet to try and fix it...she (nor the 2nd rep I spoke with) had no interest in exploring any options to resolve the issue this evening
I had an ATT rep fix this over the phone, after the previous ATT rep (accidentally, I assume, or perhaps we got confused with all the numbers) failed to do so. The second rep was able to deactivate the old sim on my account over the phone and enter the new one. Powered the phone on and off, and voila, various after about ten hours of waiting, phone calls and even restoring the phone from scratch.
So if you get the right person on the phone, they can fix this.
thenumbersrbad
macrumors 6502
Activating
I let my new phone sit for almost 5 hours and tried almost everything, even called apple support thru AT&T and finally found a website in the back of the manual, AT&T wireless help page and activated from there!
Can someone tell me that if I used the backup feature when I activated the phone should my usage times revert back to 00:00 or will it stay the same as it was from mylast iPhone and also how do you close down programs now?
I let my new phone sit for almost 5 hours and tried almost everything, even called apple support thru AT&T and finally found a website in the back of the manual, AT&T wireless help page and activated from there!
Can someone tell me that if I used the backup feature when I activated the phone should my usage times revert back to 00:00 or will it stay the same as it was from mylast iPhone and also how do you close down programs now?
I did try to restore and same error still showed up. Both Apple and ATT thought that would be a good fix too...
Thanks for the advise though!!!
You should totally share the link since my iPhone box and info booklets are at home (at girlfriends) and my iPhone has been waiting for activation for oh, almost 12 hours now... Second call to AT&T but it's almost like their phone system has given up the ghost, it dropped my call three times, said no one answered twice, and now is on hold... but with no music or anything... 😕
I am having the same problem. When I first plugged in the phone, it activated the iPhone, but I never received a prompt to activate AT&T service.
Now I am stuck at 'waiting for activation'
tried calling AT&T and they are closed, and can't use the activation webpage since it says insufficient info.
So annoying
I have 4 iPhone 3G S's on my family plan, all were activated just fine except one... which is still awaiting activation. I've tried to restore 5 times, called AT&T twice and had them enter the IMEI and SIM, still nada.
Fry-man22
macrumors 6502
Swap the SIM from your old iPhone
As others have recommended, if coming from a 3G iPhone swapping the SIM is worth a try. I waited all day yesterday and last night - no go (lots of reboots and called Apple/ATT). This morning I popped out the SIMs and swapped them without even turning the phones off. It said iPhone Activated in less than three seconds after it saw the SIM.
On an unrelated note - d@mn this thing is fast...
As others have recommended, if coming from a 3G iPhone swapping the SIM is worth a try. I waited all day yesterday and last night - no go (lots of reboots and called Apple/ATT). This morning I popped out the SIMs and swapped them without even turning the phones off. It said iPhone Activated in less than three seconds after it saw the SIM.
On an unrelated note - d@mn this thing is fast...
lauramhepp
macrumors newbie
After 19 hrs...
After 19 hrs...
If yours STILL isn't on - Don't call Apple (who will say just wait) - call AT&T to switch the ICCID # that's on the bottom of the box. On in 2 seconds.
REDIC
After 19 hrs...
If yours STILL isn't on - Don't call Apple (who will say just wait) - call AT&T to switch the ICCID # that's on the bottom of the box. On in 2 seconds.
REDIC
Is your statement in relation to someone switching out a SIM card, and having itunes not recognize the SIM card as belonging to the phone?
If so, then calling ATT to switch the ICCID # would mean that despite ATT providing you a new SIM card with a new telephone # and putting that information in their system, the ATT system somehow retains the original ICCID # and associates it with the IMEI # (handset ID #). Is this correct or does your statement refer to something different altogether?
I'm currently experiencing a problem where ATT has setup a new ICCID # and paired it with my IMEI #, but the itunes activation process is not recognizing this change.
Lord Flashheart
macrumors regular
I have a few questions. I activated my phone via iTunes and all went fine. Seemed to activate in a very short time. I can make calls, surf the net, download/upgrade apps, check email... But when I try to register Applecare, it says I must activate my phone 1st. Also when I tried to use an app( most are working) I got a message that I need to activate the phone. Am I activated? Is there a final step I need to do? Should I just call AT&T?
Is there any point to actually waiting the "up to 48 hours"? Meaning, will it ever fix itself and turn on?
My 32 activated in 10 seconds bu my wife's is still out of luck. We are both coming from 1 gen 1phones. I really want to avoid calling any customer service at this point.
My 32 activated in 10 seconds bu my wife's is still out of luck. We are both coming from 1 gen 1phones. I really want to avoid calling any customer service at this point.
Is it worth it to bring it to an AT&T store to have them activate it? Can they do it any faster than I can? I have been waiting 19 hours - 2 restores and countless popping out the SIM card attempts. Would it help to put in my SIM card from my old - non-iPhone - 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! 😀
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! 😀