iTunes can't activate my iPhone

Question

Level 1

4 points

iTunes can't activate my iPhone

I have an (original) iPhone through our corporate cellular plan. Its been working fine with 2.0. I hooked it up to sync it today with my work machine. It went through the download and update of the new software. At the end I get a message:
Today I was playing with the new google app on my 4 months old iPhone 3G. All of a sudden the application crashes, the iPhone reboots and show the connect to iTunes logo.
I attached the phone to iTunes on my Mac and I got this message:
"(this iPhone) cannot be used with iTunes because the information required for activation could not be obtained from the iPhone. Check that the SIM card is inserted in your iPhone and that it is not PIN-Locked."

I restored the iPhone (with the DFU mode) and got the same error; tried to install software 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 and got an unknow error.

The iPhone has never been jailbroken, its a genuine €569 unlocked 16gb iPhone 3G purchased in a Vodafone store in Italy.

I used it in the past month with a Vodafone UK sim with no problem (the VF UK sim wa in the phone when it crashed). I tried to restore it with both Vodafone Sims, but I got the same message.

Does anyone know what happened?
If I bring it to an Apple store in the UK (I currently live here), will they swap it with a new one?
Do I have to jailbreak it to get it working again?

HELP!!!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iPhone 16GB (Vodafone Italy)

Posted on Nov 19, 2008 2:05 PM

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Answer 1

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Nov 19, 2008 2:16 PM in response to gianseo

If it is an Italian phone, it will need to go to Apple Italy for service. The most current firmware is 2.1, you should not be trying to restore using older firmware.

Try putting the original SIM into the phone and do a restore using 2.1.

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Answer 2

Nov 19, 2008 2:25 PM in response to gianseo

What are you expecting when you're using Vodafone UK with an Italian iPhone when the iPhone is only legitimately supported in the UK on O2?

It seems like there are a few inconsistencies here too: "I have an (original) iPhone through our corporate cellular plan." and "The iPhone has never been jailbroken, its a genuine €569 unlocked 16gb iPhone 3G purchased in a Vodafone store in Italy."

Corporate cellular plan bought in a Vodafone store in Italy? Hmmmmm.....

Help us out here......are you roaming on your Italian plan or what?

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Answer 3

gianseo Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 19, 2008 2:39 PM in response to gianseo

to RestlessFool:
I cutted and pasted the error message from another thread...just ignore the first 3 lines....sorry about that
I got the phone in Italy as a "pay as you go", and it comes unlocked.... I wouldn't post here if I didn't have an genuine iPhone.
If you put a sim card that is not supported, you have to key in the APN manually; on Voda UK I use the Internet APN and works perfectly.

to Tamara:
Tried with the original SIM and the latest firmware as well, same results.
Are you sure It can't be serviced here in the UK?

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Answer 4

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Nov 19, 2008 3:52 PM in response to gianseo

According to the Apple FAQ, the iPhone can only be serviced in the country of origin.

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Answer 5

Nov 19, 2008 3:56 PM in response to gianseo

gianseo wrote:
I have an *(original) iPhone* through our corporate cellular plan. Its been working fine with 2.0. I hooked it up to sync it today with my work machine. It went through the download and update of the new software. At the end I get a message:
Today I was playing with the new google app on my 4 months old iPhone 3G. All of a sudden the application crashes, the iPhone reboots and show the connect to iTunes logo.
I attached the phone to iTunes on my Mac and I got this message:
"(this iPhone) cannot be used with iTunes because the information required for activation could not be obtained from the iPhone. Check that the SIM card is inserted in your iPhone and that it is not PIN-Locked."

I restored the iPhone (with the DFU mode) and got the same error; tried to install software 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 and got an unknow error.

The iPhone has never been jailbroken, _its a genuine €569 unlocked 16gb iPhone 3G_ purchased in a Vodafone store in Italy.

I used it in the past month with a Vodafone UK sim with no problem (the VF UK sim wa in the phone when it crashed). I tried to restore it with both Vodafone Sims, but I got the same message.

Does anyone know what happened?
If I bring it to an Apple store in the UK (I currently live here), will they swap it with a new one?
Do I have to jailbreak it to get it working again?

HELP!!!!!!

So is your iPhone a iPhone 3G or an Orginal iPhone that has a metal back to it?

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Answer 6

gianseo Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 19, 2008 3:59 PM in response to ouimetnick

iPhone 3G 16gb....5th restores with firmware 2.1 and still the same error 😟

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Answer 7

gianseo Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 23, 2008 4:57 PM in response to gianseo

Went to the Apple store in Rome and they swapped it with a new one; it seems it was an hardware issue

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Answer 8

kaltespj

Level 1

0 points

Nov 24, 2008 10:01 PM in response to gianseo

OK, I see another post yesterday with the same issue - I see nothing prior to about a week ago anywhere - I have the same problem - an original iphone - and my problems started right after loading the new Google app... I would go in and out of service for no reason, the battery would die faster, etc, etc... Now, it says I have no SIM card... Is there an issue here with the Google App?

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Answer 9

gianseo Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2008 5:29 PM in response to kaltespj

The timing is quite perfect on my phone :the Google app crashed, the phone rebooted and couldn't find the sim anymore...it might be a coincidence ....but I have the feeling the Google App (which is using some undocumented API to get the voice recognition) kills the phones

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