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!]
It took me no more than 5 mins to activate my phone and another 5 mins to synce the stuff i wanted on it.
I had no problems at all!!
“I’m typing this from my iPhone but my friend has had his activating for about 3 hours now. Needless to say he is very disappointed.”
I’d be very disappointed as well. It must be a serious energy drain, just sucks all of that juicy hype right out of your system. It’s a terrible way to begin a relationship.
People should get that box home, open it up, sync it up, activate it up and in minutes stare amazed at the power they hold before them.
That’s how I’d want my iPhone experience to be. At the very least let me load all my shit on there and play some movies/music, get to know the interface more intimately while I’m waiting.
Thanks alot for putting iBrick in the title…this article will be in the news section of Bloomberg on Monday morning…the naysayers will see to it.
Martin: “this is only a delay, and it’s shorter than the message claims.
most people that received that message have an active iPhone by now.
i think it’s not AT&T or Apple’s fault, but other carriers that are not fully prepared.”
Not to be an ass, but how do you know this inside info? Do you work at Apple or AT&T, or was that just your speculation?
Less than 2 minutes here…
ah, an unlocked iphone with a sim tray.. pop the sim card in.. good to go.
Moo-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
Total respect for MDN for this report.
I was tearing my hair out – I waited 10 hours for an iPhone and it’s still not working after 4 hours of trying to activate!
Couldn’t get a straight answer from anyone – except MDN.
Perhaps Apple and AT&T should have staggered the released by time zone, region or even state. For example, California on day one, the rest of the West Coast a few days later, the Mid-West, a day after that, and so on.
I hope they get this figured out before the man on ebay who bid $99,999,999.00 for an iPhone gets his. I just tried to get the link for you all but it looks like ebay just removed it. I lie to you not, it was one dollar under $100M!
i had no problems activating two phones and i am currently typing this on my iPhone
i think it’s not AT&T or Apple’s fault, but other carriers that are not fully prepared.
…or perhaps not fully interested in helping with Apple’s image.
“You wanna switch your current number to your new iPhone? Suuuure we can help. Give us a week. Maybe two. Pity your iPhone will be useless until then…”.
Well, you know, you can wait an extra few weeks until all of the dust settles. Instant gratification = masturbation.
See what happens when you don’t control the whole widget?
Activation was a few minutes here (about 4 to be exact). Smooth as silk. I think you are all confusing the “porting” of numbers with activation. Porting is at the whim of the other provider and has NOTHING to do with Apple or AT&T. Any smart cell phone user would know this very basic information.
I’ve been waiting for activation for over three and a half hours now. . . no number transfer etc,.
Front page news in local paper in Sturgis, SD. No iPhone for the people of South Dakota because AT&T/cingular refuse to do buisness in this state
Phone calls get routed through another carrier, but no internet or other goodies.
Just be glad you not here.
http://www.sdmoderate.com/2007/06/27/iphone-will-just-be-a-rumor-here/
What they don’t make completely clear is that activation is required to do anything. Additionally, you may have to wait to receive calls IF you are transferring a phone number.
I read it this way the first time, but obviously others have not.
– gws
My iPhone activated in about 30 seconds.
I don’t know why people are surprised. Name any other phone company that has had to add up to an estimated 400,000 phone accounts in one day. This won’t be an issue by tomorrow.
I was very excited about my new iphone…until I tried to set up with Itunes. This is when I discovered that there was no sim card or sim card tray in the phone. The guy at apple said this was the first call he got on this issue. Anyone else come home with an empty sim slot. I took the whole box apart including the bottom and foam top. What a letdown.
“Not to be an ass, but how do you know this inside info? Do you work at Apple or AT&T, or was that just your speculation?”
I’m not sure what the person you directed that question to was thinking, but it’s the same idea that came to mind for me.
Number portability is a two way transition. The new carrier cannot activate your new account with an old phone number until your current carrier releases that number from their system.
Now, who’s more likely to take it slow in this situation, AT&T, who not only gains a new customer but is stealing one from a competitor, or the competitor who is about to lose that customer to AT&T?
Conventional wisdom says that it’s your current carrier who will drag their feet releasing your phone number to AT&T. If the bastards could, they’d call you at home, ask why you’re leaving and try to bribe you to stay with a cheaper plan or some other discount.
woooooohoooooooooooooooo.
Activated in 5 mins.
I wonder how widespread it is?
This is from my iphone. It activated in like 15 minutes.