1st Gen iPhones wont activate. Planned Obsolescence?

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Level 1

5 points

1st Gen iPhones wont activate. Planned Obsolescence?

We stood in line back in June of 2007 to get our two iPhones for $1200. We've replaced those first iPhones along the way with the same iPhone 1st gen when problems have occured. No issues. Been out of contract for years and have the original data and text plan that is no longer offered by AT&T.

A few weeks ago my wifes phone died so i pulled out an older (same 1st gen) iphone that was scratched up, but fully working the last time we used it and tried to put her sim card in it. NOTHING. Called AT&T and Apple and we were on tech support for hours. Nothing, would not activate. Apple level 2 tech said that the replacement phone must be bad. Ok. So we took her broken phone to the Apple store for repairs, waiting for that...

In the meantime I had a buggy App on my iPhone (same 1st gen), so I tried a restore. iTunes wipes out my phone and... guess what happens when my phone is coming back to life? WILL NOT ACTIVATE. Even if the phone gets past the supposed activation, the "Connect to iTunes screen" on the phone will not leave. Only emergency calls. Same issue. 2 hours with Apple tech support determines they can't find anything.

There's some problem with 1st Generation iPhones that will not activate. Planned Obsolescence it seems. Unless you get a newer phone, you cannot restore or activate a 1st Generation iPhone. Has this been stated anywhere?

So here we are with NO PHONES, NO CONTACTS, NO APPS, NOTHING. My wife is using a borrowed Erricson, and I'm phoneless. Unless we upgrade, lose our plans, and pay HIGHER monthly service fees we have no solution so far from Apple or AT&T.

Has anyone been able to get a 1st Gen iphone to activate recently? How? Thank you.

iOS 3.1.3

Posted on Dec 11, 2011 3:11 PM

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Answer 1

Kyle504

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2011 4:10 PM in response to neonart

I had the same problem. Right when you plug in the first gen iPhone, hold the home button until it comes up on itunes. Choose to restore it. Hope it works for you

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Answer 2

Dec 13, 2011 6:11 PM in response to neonart

Apple does not activate the phone-ATT does.

You should be talking to them about why their network is not working properly.

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Answer 3

neonart Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 13, 2011 7:17 PM in response to Kyle504

No, that didn't work. We tried that several times with both AT&T and Apple. Thanks.

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Answer 4

neonart Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 13, 2011 7:34 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

Johnathan, as I stated in the original post, both AT&T and Apple were unable to solve it. I spent a total of 6 hours on tech support with both companies to no avail. No exageration.

Finally after a visit to the Apple store yesterday, one of the guys at the Genius Bar said he'd seen it and it required a miracle from AT&T, and then it only sometimes works.

I ask on these forums because there are sometimes knowledgeable people who have dealt with these things and can help. In any case, both Apple and AT&T should at least "know" of the issue and help their customers. If you serch online you will see this is not the only case.

After a not so passive conversation with AT&T, they helped a little bit with my bill, etc. But my final solution was to purchase 2 iPhone 4Ss, and pay a higher monthly bill (even with less minutes), when we were fine with what we had and it was functional.

I understand technology moves on, but at least either 1) let your customers know when you no longer support a product or 2) give them solutions that do not incur additional costs.

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