Apple and AT&T seem to have their signals crossed. Multiple MacDailyNews readers and users in Apple Discussions (Apple.com / Support / Discussions / iPhone / Phone) are reporting their iPhones are being turned into iBricks while they wait for AT&T activation.
Most of those facing this issue understand that the large amount of orders may create a process that takes some time. The time it takes is not really the issue here, the issue is that Apple’s iPhone Users’ Guide states:
See the problem? “In the meantime, you can make calls and use iPhone’s other features.”
After much time on the phone with both AT&T and Apple Support, this is what we believe is the issue:
• AT&T is completely swamped right now due to so many people trying to activate at the same time
• Apple is completely swamped right now due to a mistake (or very poorly-worded passage) in their iPhone User’s Guide
iPhone owners are understandably expecting that while they wait for AT&T to activate their phones that “in the meantime” they’ll be able to “make calls and use iPhone’s other features.”
This, we have been assured by Apple, is incorrect. iPhones will not allow for anything other than an emergency call (911) to be made and for a pretty picture of planet Earth with text imploring users to “Activate iPhone” to be displayed.
So, “in the meantime,” iPhone users waiting for AT&T activation cannot make calls (other than calling “911”) and cannot use iPhone’s other features. In other words, in an effort to be perfectly clear: AT&T activation is required before iPhone users can “make calls and use iPhone’s other features.”
We think Apple meant their Guide to say that while waiting for your old carrier (for example, Verizon) to transfer the necessary info to AT&T, users could expect to “make calls and use iPhone’s other features.” That wait for info from the old carrier only affects incoming calls to your iPhone – everything else (iPod, Safari, etc.) will work, if AT&T has gotten around to activating your iPhone.
We also believe that Apple expected AT&T to handle iPhone activation much more expeditiously, but that obviously hasn’t happened for some number of unhappy iBrick owners.
MacDailyNews Take: Bottom line: AT&T seems to have blown iPhone activation, at least for some, and Apple’s online iPhone User’s Guide is incorrectly guiding iPhone users to expect something that will not happen. Not good. And it’s especially disappointing for those who waited hours, even days, to plunk down $500-$600 for the device and sign up for at least a $60/month service from AT&T. AT&T needs to do whatever they can to speed things up and Apple should immediately get that Guide offline and rewrite that passage in the iPhone User’s Guide to let users know what to really expect.
[UPDATE: 12:48am EDT: Several readers report activation in the last 30-minutes or so! Their “iBricks” have magically transformed into iPhones, and that’s a very good thing!]
@ iPhone woohoo
so …. how much are you gonna ask for your 2nd iPhone on ebay ?
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It’s a small delay because of Mass traffic. Mark my words…tomorrow it will work – when they catch up. And after that it will continue to work with the several thousand a day they sell, not several hundred thousand like today.
BTW – It’s AT&T and not Apple or any other carrier. I am transferring a number but that doesn’t effect the basic activation – which mine has been delayed for 2 hours so far…no email. I’m sure I’ll have it in the morning, I’m not worried.
I was just saying to friends today, I hope the “background” of AT&T and Apple is ready for this flood. From 6:30 to 8:30 the servers, lines, whatever takes care of it all is going to be overwhelmed. I had a gut feeling it was going to be a tough first 6 hours to a day.
Imagine the number of attempts all in one time frame.
@Newmanstein. I agree. MDN: Cut the iBrick crap. I don’t need my stock to fall. ; )
Any new, publicly untested complex product in demand to this massive degree, (and activating all at the same time) is going to hit bumps here and there. It will iron out quickly. Cut ’em a break.
I had no issues with iPhone activation or setup. Text message announcing that it could receive calls came after about 2 hours, but all other features were fully functional in the mean time. It never occurred to me that they might not be!
This note entered on the iPhone.
Perhaps Apple and AT&T should have staggered the released by time zone, region or even state.
The gotta-have-it crowd would’ve just migrated to the first-release stores. Wonder how many travelled to EDT stores because of this.
What Apple and AT&T should’ve done was better prepare for the entire inventory of iPhones being activated over a few short hours. If the network couldn’t handle the demand then the rate of sales should’ve been limited.
Well, at least you don’t have to wait in the store for all this……
less than two minutes for mine
MDN,
Some “fan boys” you guys turned out to be!
Just kidding, I am sitting here with an iBrick myself and getting nowhere with Rajiv on AT&T phone support -then I read your article and hung up.
I can’t wait to use my iPhone, I’m sure I’ll love it!
But, Apple really needs to fix that User’s Guide – it reads totally wrong and that’s why those affected are so frustrated!
I had the same issue. I called at t. They had np clue.I read the support passage on apple support web site .as specified there , everything except phone calls are working on my iphone.I am on wifi. I typed this message on iphone . I love this key board . It is great . I wish they added the full stop / the dot in the main key bosrd layout
Cheers
Just talked to AT&T. They are now quoting a 3-4 hour activation time, max. I’m at 3 1/2 hours so hopefully I will be up and running soon.
Did anyone predict this in advance? It does make sense, but I don’t recall anyone here or elsewhere calling it, even naysayers.
I have been waiting 6 hours and no email or activation. i ejected the iphone from the computer and it gave me the imei and iccid #s…does anyone know what these mean? called them 3 times. this is ridiculous.
For all you completely deluded Apple fanboys out there, there is DEFINITELY a problem with ACTIVATION. My issue has absolutely nothing to do with number porting. I bought a phone at the AT&T store, did the credit pre-approval, and the “system” failed to give my friendly sales-drone the required approval code. “No problem,” he says, “you won’t need it to activate your phone.” Now it’s 2.5 hours later, and my iPhone still fails to activate, complaining that I need pre-approval (which I have). I have talked with the manager of the store and with 3 different ppl at the Death Star (Corporate Support). No on can help me… and I am getting a little pissed.
Starting the show at 6pm is the worst idea Apple ever had, since now I will have to wait until tomorrow to so if not when I can activate my iBrick.
Went thru activation via iTunes — finished at 9:52 pm EDT. Got a “we need more time to complete, you’ll get an email when it’s done” message. A minute or so later, I got the email — says it’s gonna be a full 24 HOURS until the number transfer is completed.
So until 9:52 pm tomorrow night…all I can do is look at the earth photo (and call 911). I’m sure it’s Alltel dragging their feet on the number transfer as mentioned above — but it’s be nice if Apple and ATT had anticipated this a little better. I’d at least like to check out the other features while I’m waiting to make calls.
Yeah, I know — waa waa waa. But it still bites.
See what happens when you don’t control the whole widget?
IOW, Apple is supposed to build and run their own wireless network??
I’d love to see the price tag on that.
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Articles popping up already–
I was so excited flying from my home in Halifax to New York this morning—I was getting an iPhone! But three hours after getting my hands on one, I am ready to drop the thing from the 44th floor of the New York Hilton—and I probably would if I was sure it would hit someone from AT&T.
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2007/06/iphone_act/index.php
But we should report on the real story here… The iPhone is completely and unbelievably awesome.
THis sucks!
RTFA:
That wait for info from the old carrier only affects incoming calls to your iPhone – everything else (iPod, Safari, etc.) will work, if AT&T has gotten around to activating your iPhone.
MDN has nailed this issue. Thanks!
No problem with mine. Bought at 9pm central time. Up and running in 5 minutes when at home at 10pm. Current AT&T customer and kept #
Glad my daughter isn’t doing Cingular customer service this year. She’d be getting grief from enraged Apple fanatics right now…
MacDailyNews,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I was so frustrated with AT&T support (clueless) and Apple support (they seem shocked) that I was about to throw this $600 paperweight against the wall!
I’m so happy you explained what’s going on, so I can sleep tonight!
Thank you!
During activation did anyones phone show signal strength?
First I was told that my credit check failed and I needed to come into an AT&T store to make “arrangements” in order to get a monthly billing plan. This meant pay a security deposit. This surprised and shocked me since I thought I had excellent credit. Hence, I quickly pulled a free credit report and felt better when I saw my Experian credit score was 765. Maybe there was something wrong with my Equifax or Transunion report? In order to be sure, I paid $24.95 to get the other two reports instantly and saw my credit score was 765 and 773 respectively with these agencies. I decided to try activating my new iPhone once again and this time I received the dreaded, “Your Activation is taking longer than usual…”. I also received an e-mail claiming that my phone number would be moved from Verizon to AT&T in 24 hours…so I believe my credit problem has somehow been resolved. (I just wish I hadn’t spent an additional $24.95 to prove to myself that I had excellent credit) Now if I could just get the phone to work as advertised I’d be happy.
This is a DISASTER for Apple!
Mine activated in about 3 minutes.