POSSIBLE SOLUTION to LONG Activation Waits : Sim Card # Not Updated

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Level 1

15 points

POSSIBLE SOLUTION to LONG Activation Waits : Sim Card # Not Updated

It might not be an overload on the servers that is causing activation woes...
After waiting over 5 hours for my iPhone 3GS to activate, and after reading forums, I decided to call AT&T. After first telling me I would have to go to an Apple Store and have it activated, the representative checked with an Apple Rep. I then gave her the IMEI # and the SIM CARD # of the new iPhone.
It turns out, AT&T did not have the new sim card #, they still had the old one from my first generation (non-3g) iphone. After they input the correct # and shutting down both phones, I connected the 3GS to iTunes and it was immediately activated- IMMEDIATELY!

So the problem may not be the servers, the problem may be a lack of communication between Apple and AT&T or someone at AT&T not inputting new Sim information.
I have been advised NOT to merely switch the old sim with the new. If you call AT&T have the NEW SIM # and your IMEI Number. Both are available on the sticker on the back of the box so you don't have to physically remove the sim card. (The sim card # is the one on the bottom left labelled ICCID)

iPHONE 3G S Black 16GB, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on Jun 19, 2009 2:19 PM

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Answer 1

llepoer

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2009 3:13 PM in response to unsungsong

Thanks for posting. I had the same problem and called AT&T. Only waited 2 minutes on hold and got a very helpful customer service rep. She took my new SIM and IMEI numbers and updated. I'm doing a restore now and hopefully, I'll be all set.

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Answer 2

unsungsong Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 19, 2009 4:05 PM in response to llepoer

Good Luck

By the way for those who have been waiting for activation, this seems to be a very common problem when buying the 3G S online and upgrading from the Original 2G.
If you have been waiting an extraordinary amount of time call AT&T. I got right through with no waiting. Just explain what has been happening and how you read on the forums a lot of the new SIM card numbers are not in AT&Ts system correctly.

By the way, you DO NOT have to remove the sim card, the numbers you need are on the back of your new iphone box on the black sticker. The SIM CARD # is the ICCID # above the last bar code on the left, and the IMEI # is the one above the last barcode on the right.

GOOD LUCK, I wish I had done this earlier, I spent 5 HOURS waiting, and then once this was done it was activated instantly!

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Answer 3

Jun 19, 2009 4:22 PM in response to unsungsong

What ATT number did you use to get the new sim # corrected? I've been on hold for over an hour.

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Answer 4

Jun 19, 2009 4:26 PM in response to unsungsong

I have the same problem, took out the sim and put it back in and it work! Problem solve
this is for the 3g s

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Answer 5

bobbie88

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2009 4:31 PM in response to unsungsong

same thing here. waited for 2 hours for my phone to activate before actually calling at&t. i took me 10 minutes to have them get my IMEI # and set everything up! Just wish i would have called sooner!

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Answer 6

Jun 19, 2009 4:33 PM in response to DenverJim

call 1-800-331-0500 I called and had two phones activated in 5 minutes.

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Answer 7

unsungsong Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 19, 2009 4:35 PM in response to DenverJim

AT&T Customer service 1-800-331-0500

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Answer 8

Jun 19, 2009 7:19 PM in response to unsungsong

Yes - calling AT&T Wireless worked for me. Devon, the AT&T rep, was cool and got me activated in 5 minutes with the IMEI and ICCID off the back of the box after waiting all day for the "servers." It's not the servers, it's the data put into the servers. Thanks to unsungsong and others for providing this information. Think they'll get it right with 4G activation?....?

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Answer 9

adamguy

Level 1

93 points

Jun 19, 2009 7:21 PM in response to unsungsong

I've been waiting a while for the second e-mail from AT&T to finish my activation. I called customer service, and a rep got my numbers all straightened out and now I am able to make calls. She advised me to wait for the second e-mail to finish my activation. I cannot access the Web, etc. through the cellular network.

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Answer 10

teach5

Level 1

111 points

Jun 19, 2009 7:31 PM in response to unsungsong

Call AT&T and ask to talk with an iphone activation tech.. I did earlier and didn't have to give a number. She had me unsync, then unplug and turn the phone off and she told me to wait until she told me to turn it back on. She did something while I waited and then told me to turn the phone back on and it was activated. I was so happy after having read some of the posts where people had been waiting a long time. Call, Call, Call!

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Answer 11

Jun 19, 2009 8:31 PM in response to teach5

I CAN'T call AT&T - I don't have a working phone! 10 hours plus and it still says "No Service - Awaiting Activation".

VERY angry over this!

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Answer 12

Jun 19, 2009 8:43 PM in response to Lisa Garland

Just got off the phone with ATT, luckily my 1st Gen didn't get bricked during the whole "no service" disaster. Had them update my IMEI and ICCID number and phone was up in running less then 2 mins later. Thanks to everyone who posted the fix.

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Answer 13

bikoes

Level 1

4 points

Jun 19, 2009 8:43 PM in response to Lisa Garland

Possible fix - go to "settings", "general", "reset", "reset network settings". I waited over 6 hrs for activation and now I have service.

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Answer 14

Jun 19, 2009 8:47 PM in response to unsungsong

Do you have to have your old phone OFF to have the new one work?

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Answer 15

Rob_C

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2009 8:50 PM in response to unsungsong

Wow, waited 6.5 hours for activation until I read this thread. I called AT&t and she did not want to help - said it was an Apple problem with iTunes. Finally convinced her to give this a try and voila! Activation.

You can also find the ICCID and IMEI under Settings-->General-->About.

Thank you!

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