Unsuccessful atempts to get $20 unlimited data plan for iphone 2g

[PPFee]

Wao, I'm still waiting in the mail for my iphone 2G..should arrive by 2nd. November and I guess I'm looking into a lot of red tape.

Chuckle (I'm hellbent on finding a word to use where people normally say "lol"), yea man you really shouldn't have any problems, it seems its fairly simple more often than not, but of course the problems and problem causers like myself take up 10x more thread real-estate.

 

[chestvrg]

Chuckle (I'm hellbent on finding a word to use where people normally say "lol"), yea man you really shouldn't have any problems, it seems its fairly simple more often than not, but of course the problems and problem causers like myself take up 10x more thread real-estate.

Thx PPFee LOL. I assume I have to first call to cancel my 2GB data plan and replace the IMEI with a dumb phone and take off any data plan before initiating the process.

Went to the at&t store yesterday to get a SIM and the rep by mistake gave me an "activated" one instead of inactivated can you believe.

 

[PPFee]

Thx PPFee LOL. I assume I have to first call to cancel my 2GB data plan and replace the IMEI with a dumb phone and take off any data plan before initiating the process.

Went to the at&t store yesterday to get a SIM and the rep by mistake gave me an "activated" one instead of inactivated can you believe.

You don't have to no. I am actually at the same exact point as you. I have everything i need, but stuck my existing sim into the Yellow Short bus riding phone and went into OLAM and it recognized and changed the device but doesn't give me an option to remove the current iPhone data plan. As far as i know, the only point in removing the data plan via the dumb phone method is to make things easier, on you and on iTunes/activation process so it only has to add a data plan and not replace one. However If you have to call in to have them remove it, in my mind it defeats the purpose, because the point of it was to make it less likely to require a phone call at all by making it more likely to fly through the process in iTunes with no problem. Id say screw it and just go ahead as instructed. Thats what I'm doing now.

 

[chestvrg]

Thank you PPFee I'll just leave the 2GB data plan on and when my iphone 2G arrives I will then just go via the itunes process to see if the iphone2G becomes activated and then I'll see what happens next.

I can always walk into an at&t store and ask for an additional SIM card to begin the activation process again.

 

[psywzrd]

I'm still getting stuck on the "Please wait while AT&T is processing your activation. This make take up to 3 minutes." screen. I was able to go through and select the unlimited plan and everything but I can't get this activation to go through. Tried rebooting the computer and the phone and still the same problem. Any ideas?

 

[dave006]

......stuck my existing sim into the Yellow Short bus riding phone and went into OLAM and it recognized and changed the device but doesn't give me an option to remove the current iPhone data plan.

The DEER system is what determined your current phone as displayed in OLAM ( in this test a dumb phone ). It is automated, when your phone connects to the AT&T Cell network it sends it's IMEI and ICCID information. The system is designed to offer you the support information and valid features in OLAM that are for your "current" device. However, AT&T is not stupid enough to just allow you to swap your SIM into a different device and just drop the iPhone Data plan via OLAM, they just make you call Customer Care and they will helpfully remove it for you.

If you have an iPhone Data plan on your currrent line, you will not be able to remove it via OLAM. Since AT&T requires an iPhone Data Plan, you can't remove it without providing the IMEI of another device. In your case, you would have to call AT&T to update the IMEI on your line and then the iPhone Data plan could be removed.

Dave

 

[PPFee]

I'm still getting stuck on the "Please wait while AT&T is processing your activation. This make take up to 3 minutes." screen. I was able to go through and select the unlimited plan and everything but I can't get this activation to go through. Tried rebooting the computer and the phone and still the same problem. Any ideas?

Hi All, updates here, battery about to die, so more details and pics coming soon. I hooked up to my macbook did the restore and reconnected, and kept getting stuck at the white iPhone screen immediately after plugging in. After retiring multiple times and before attempting to Activation mode command line fix, I plugged into my old 12" powerbook g4 ( version info to come) and instantly came up with the welcome screen and activation process and everything went through smooth and snappy, selecting the plans and all. Then said please wait while activating, came up and said complete wait for a message on your iPhone for notification but said that it was finished, and allowed me to sync some songs and stuff. Although it was still at that connect to iTunes screen on the phone, never went past that and says no service, emergency only. It said sync complete ok to disconnect from iTunes so i unplugged it, the att email said be sure to plug in your iPhone to complete activation so i plugged it back in, and i got the white iPhone screen on the laptop again. Like i said the phone screen never changed off the plug into to iTunes, 911 screen. Its still there, not sure if i should restart the phone or let it sit and communicate with the network. Everything seemed great except for the last time i plugged and how it responded at that point.....

 

[2ndname]

Let us know how it goes PPFee and how long it took you after that activation email.

 

[psywzrd]

I should have added that I did get two emails, one that says, "AT&T is now processing your activation. You will receive an email confirmation once your activation is complete." and a second one that says, "We are currently processing your order. Your order number is xxxxxxxxxxxx.
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone."

Does that mean that I just sit and wait now or does the fact that everything is timing out in itunes mean that there's a problem?

 

[Applejuiced]

I should have added that I did get two emails, one that says, "AT&T is now processing your activation. You will receive an email confirmation once your activation is complete." and a second one that says, "We are currently processing your order. Your order number is xxxxxxxxxxxx.
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone."

Does that mean that I just sit and wait now or does the fact that everything is timing out in itunes mean that there's a problem?

I got the same.
The phone never activated.
It's gotta be a network issue. Seems like impossible to activate an original iPhone.

 

[psywzrd]

I got the same.
The phone never activated.
It's gotta be a network issue. Seems like impossible to activate an original iPhone.

So you got as far as I did in itunes and got stuck at ""Please wait while AT&T is processing your activation. This make take up to 3 minutes."? I don't understand what the problem is at this point. I really wish someone could help out here because I have no idea if this is going to go through or not. Maybe that step we're stuck at is going to keep happening until we get a 3rd email from at&t letting us know about the final step that's required for activation?

 

[maclook]

So you got as far as I did in itunes and got stuck at ""Please wait while AT&T is processing your activation. This make take up to 3 minutes."? I don't understand what the problem is at this point. I really wish someone could help out here because I have no idea if this is going to go through or not. Maybe that step we're stuck at is going to keep happening until we get a 3rd email from at&t letting us know about the final step that's required for activation?

Have you guys called AT&T or 611? If you haven't, you need to do so. I ran into those exact issues and calling them was the only solution. I just did this 2 days ago and now have unlimited data on my 4S, so I suggest calling them. Don't sit at your screen waiting because nothing will happen...

 

[Applejuiced]

Have you guys called AT&T or 611? If you haven't, you need to do so. I ran into those exact issues and calling them was the only solution. I just did this 2 days ago and now have unlimited data on my 4S, so I suggest calling them. Don't sit at your screen waiting because nothing will happen...

Yep over a dozen times.
It got me nowhere. They wouldn't do it.
I got the most useless, unhelpful and uneducated customer reps. They said I never had it in my account t before so they can't add it.
They told me I had to pick the $15 or $25 plan, or go to Apple, or they don't offer that plan or they can't add it or they will call me later and never do and tons of other excuses.

 

[psywzrd]

Have you guys called AT&T or 611? If you haven't, you need to do so. I ran into those exact issues and calling them was the only solution. I just did this 2 days ago and now have unlimited data on my 4S, so I suggest calling them. Don't sit at your screen waiting because nothing will happen...

I did call and they told me that they couldn't help me because it was an original iphone. I don't think they're even open now, are they? If so, what # can I call?

 

[maclook]

psywzrd & Applejuiced -
Sorry to hear that. I must have been incredibly lucky because my first call got me a helpful CSR. Another member, Cmjkxa, took many calls before finding a CSR that helped him. But for both of us, I think, iTunes was being totally uncooperative (which I think may be due to having the newest version since PPFee could use his old computer) so the only option was to call them.

Psywzrd - if you have an AT&T phone, you call 611 from it. I don't have the normal CS number. They may be closed now so you'll probably have to wait until tomorrow. I can't think of a better way to start the work week than with a call to AT&T.

Just to give you more insight into how my call went:
I called and said I'm stuck at "activation requires additional time" on iTunes. After asking what phone I had, the CSR says she'll be happy to help and that she needs my IMEI and SIM card number. After I gave her my IMEI, I was having trouble finding my SIM card number and while I shuffled around for it, she asked me what data plan I wanted. I acted clueless and asked what was available. She says I already have a $15 200mb data plan but that I could get the $20 unlimited data plan. Acting surprised, I said I'll take the unlimited. So I believe I was lucky that she asks me about the data plan and not the other way around. But then she tells me that since the data plan is discontinued, she needs her manager to put the plan onto my account. This takes about 5 minutes but the point is that the manager is now putting the unlimited plan onto my account with no questions asked. So your CSR can't put the plan onto your account but you need a CSR that knows that the manager can do so.

 

[PPFee]

1. criminal law the dishonest taking of property belonging to another person with the intention of depriving the owner permanently of its possession
2. rare something stolen

1. Pompous
2. Douche (Douche usually refers to vaginal irrigation, the rinsing of the vagina, but it can also refer to the rinsing of any body cavity. A douche bag is a piece of equipment for douching—a bag for holding the fluid used in douching. To avoid transferring intestinal bacteria into the vagina, the same bag must not be used for an enema and a vaginal douche.)

I guess it didn't work out well for you when you tried the unlimited data switch huh? What are all the fees and surcharges they charge us every month, honest? I hope you get hit by a truck, legally that is, Because i would hate for the driver to suffer for doing everyone a favor. Yea I'm in a bad mood you picked the wrong time to play games, especially when you pick a fight and can't even use proper english/sentance structure. Im not a grammar nazi but thats quite lackluster. If you want to preach legal issues, you should have your hands full with the Jailbreak and hacks thread. What this thread encompasses is not actually illegal, although the oxford dictionary people would be proud of the argument/definition you provided to try and persuade us to believe otherwise.

To everyone else, Im working on a post with updates right now, Sorry for the delay. Im dealing with a lot of B.S.(unrelated). When i saw this post, i felt better for a second and had to reply instantly.

 

[PPFee]

Details of my Encounter

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice. Heres what I went through. Sorry its kind of a double post because i included some info a few posts back.
I did a DFU restore of the original iPhone on my macbook to version 3.1.3 as posted by Dave earlier (thanks). Immediately after i power cycled the phone and laptop, restarted iTunes, and reconnected the phone, which had a fresh unused unactivated sim inserted. Immediately upon plugging it in on the macbook the phone showed up in the sidebar in iTunes but would not change from the white background screen that simply says iPhone. I switched back and forth from the store, signing in and out and it never changed. Before trying the activation Mode provided by maclook a few posts earlier, I wanted to plug into my old powerbook and try that because i had seen when looking at the first few pages of the thread some people said to try different versions of iTunes. Most people said the version didn't matter, and i don't know why it would, but i tried.It was running tiger or panther i believe but am certain iTunes was version 9.0.2. Instantly when plugged in I got the familiar Welcome lets get started screen I knew from my first iPhone.

I was excited. Victory Is Mine! So to shorten things up, from here on out i simply followed the directions as Dave clarified a few times for us in previous pages and that as he said were childproof. I really just wanted to post and caption pictures of the process so that anyone who gets caught up or has an error will know what should have taken place before or after they got caught up. It asks for account info and I obliged.

Pick plan:

Confirm the info and then wait for activation:

And if you have gotten that far you should really have no problems seeing the next screen.

I was waiting at the Activating screen just under 3 minutes, just like the screen said, before it came up with the congratulations, ATT is activating your phone screen, which is a little redundant and said my iPhone will notify me when its complete and prompted me to set up and sync the phone, press continue. Which i did and this is where i thought it was weird that my phone was still showing the connect to iTunes screen and unlock for emergency deal, but i couldn't remember if it did that in originally in 07 or not. So i synced with iTunes and then power cycled the phone, and maybe 45 seconds later i got a text from ATT, all exciting and great, strangely though the text showed up on the same connect to iTunes/emergency only screen.:

Very strange, but at this point i know its active, the whole iTunes process through to the email and then text message only took 5 minutes. Its still to this point stuck on that lock screen, but it will show text messages, and the phone will ring, I can even answer it. I realize this shouldn't matter if my goal is accomplished I shouldn't give to craps about the 2g its the 4s that matters. I log into OLAM not ten minutes after i started the activation in iTunes and just 2 minutes after i got the text, and sure enough its all there, like an oasis in the desert.

So finally the bottom line, it all worked out fine. Maybe if i would have done the forced activation mode, maclook, it still would have had the same result and activated fine for me and quickly and of course maybe I lucked out with my powerbook. Everythings great, except the 2g is still on that lock screen. I know it doesn't matter who cares, but i won't be going to get the new microsim till tomorrow to put back in the 4s, so I'm going to use that as my excuse to make getting this 2g up and running. I guess i will do another restore and see. Regardless the important thing is done. Victory is Mine!! Thanks so much to everyone for their input and advice.
Lastly to Johnbro, who i flipped out at. My apologies, it was uncalled for for me to react to so extremely. Your ridiculous comment was still just as uncalled for though.

 

[Applejuiced]

Congrats PPFee bro.
Glad it worked out for ya in the end.
That's the same exact steps I went thru but the plan was never added to my account when I log in to AT&T's site to check.
Same exact thing the phone receiving texts but still stuck on the connect to itunes screen etc...

 

[dave006]

....Everythings great, except the 2g is still on that lock screen. I know it doesn't matter who cares, but i won't be going to get the new microsim till tomorrow to put back in the 4s, so I'm going to use that as my excuse to make getting this 2g up and running.....

Power cycle your original iPhone and reconnect to iTunes on your Powerbook, since that is the iTunes you used for the Activation Steps. and you should receive and activation message on the original iPhone and be past the Lock / Connect to iTunes screen.

Dave

----------

Congrats PPFee bro.
Glad it worked out for ya in the end.
That's the same exact steps I went thru but the plan was never added to my account when I log in to AT&T's site to check.
Same exact thing the phone receiving texts but still stuck on the connect to itunes screen etc...

Did you receive the AT&T SMS Txt message or are you just saying the Mini-SIM is active and the original iPhone is able to receive SMS Txt messages?

I thought you posted that you never saw the iTunes screen to choose an iPhone Data Plan since your Mini-SIM was activate by the Care rep. It will not be there if you did not do the iTunes activation or if the Care rep did not add the correct Feature Code with a managers overide.

Dave

 

[Applejuiced]

Power cycle your original iPhone and reconnect to iTunes on your Powerbook, since that is the iTunes you used for the Activation Steps. and you should receive and activation message on the original iPhone and be past the Lock / Connect to iTunes screen.

Dave

----------

Did you receive the AT&T SMS Txt message or are you just saying the Mini-SIM is active and the original iPhone is able to receive SMS Txt messages?

I thought you posted that you never saw the iTunes screen to choose an iPhone Data Plan.

Dave

Yes, I got a text on the lockscreen saying welcome to AT&T or some other welcoming message.
I did get passed the itunes screen selecting the $20 plan, phone number, billing zip code, social etc...
Just the iphone data plan never showed up when I logged in online to my AT&T account.

 

[PPFee]

Congrats PPFee bro.
Glad it worked out for ya in the end.
That's the same exact steps I went thru but the plan was never added to my account when I log in to AT&T's site to check.
Same exact thing the phone receiving texts but still stuck on the connect to itunes screen etc...

Thanks a lot man. You have yet to reach a rep that can help right, and have you tried the process over again, or does it not even let you start the process anymore?

Power cycle your original iPhone and reconnect to iTunes on your Powerbook, since that is the iTunes you used for the Activation Steps. and you should receive and activation message on the original iPhone and be past the Lock / Connect to iTunes screen.

Dave

Thanks Dave, That is what i Tried. I will gladly attempt again. Heres what happened, I power cycled and got the text from att. Plugged back into the powerbook, and this time got the plain white iPhone screen that caused me to use the powerbook in the first place. Before I unplugged it it shoed up in iTunes with all the sync options and tabs for music, videos, ringtones etc. but after reconnecting only shows the White iPhone screen. Strangely the first time i followed your steps of clicking on another item in the sidebar like the playlist or the store and then going back to the iPhone screen, it said something about option not available for your country. After logging back in with my apple id to the store it just did the white iPhone screen again, with no errors.

----------

Alright Dave, i power cycled the powerbook and the iPhone. After opening iTunes and connecting the phone. It goes to the white iPhone screen, attempts to connect to the iTunes store for a while and then gives this error.

ituneserror by 99solara, on Flickr
Also Dave, if i go back and forth from the music tab to the iPhone tab, it will continue to give me that error. But if i click on iTunes store and let the store page load, and then go back to click iPhone in the bar on the left, then it quickly goes to the White iPhone page and stays there and quickly does the connect to iTunes store but with no result.

 

[psywzrd]

Glad it worked out for you PPFee. I tried exactly what you said (even used the same version of itunes) and I can't get past the activation/3 minutes screen. I get the same timeout message related to the itunes store. Very frustrating.

 

[PPFee]

Victory Is Mine!
Alright Dave Ive done this multiple times, but after power cycling both of them again and plugging it in, i get the same error. Same thing after clicking the store then the iPhone tab again. Logged out and switched back and forth between tabs and and brought me to a screen that said activating device.

I clicked continue and it brought me to the iTunes screen that shows the iPhones information and has the tabs at the top to select music, videos, ringtones and all of that. Its still plugged in, and has the option to sync, but the screen of the phone still has the connect screen/slide for emergency. Whats the best next move? Ok and i lost it, apparently the the phone lost connection, ill have to try and get it back to that screen again.

 

[PPFee]

Alright so after trying a few times it seems i can keep getting to that activating screen. I click continue and it shows up like a normal iPhone/ipod in devices and lets me sync. Only during sync does the slide for emergency change to slide to cancel, and then changes back afterwards. A couple times it said it could not save the iPhone backup, not sure if its corrupted or what not. I have it sitting at the screen where i can select music and tell it to sync. Im not sure what else to try except unplug and power cycle again and hope something happens different or to click where it says if I'm having problems with my iPhone i can restore to factory condition. Thanks again for Dave and everyone for your input. Sorry i seem to be making this so difficult.

 

[PPFee]

While I'm sitting around being no help to anyone i figure i've got one question i can ask that will hopefully eliminate everyone having to ask it at different times. Once the process is done, what is the best method to going back to the newer iPhone 3g/4/4s. Just transfer sim and wait. Transfer and call CS. Don't transfer go to store and get a new one and have them make account changes, or go get a new sim but don't have them make any changes there, wait and call. or some combination of the above i didn't mention. Once again, thanks in advance.