Q: iOS 7 iMessage won't activate

So I was on the phone for ages with a Telstra level 1 tech who would not listen to my argument that it's a network fault, so she would not escalate. She kept insisting I call Apple as iMessage is a "handset feature" (no, not network reliant at all) and after ages of arguing I spoke to Apple and was told many customers mainly from Telstra were complaining.

This thread will help Telstra users understand:

http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Apple-iPhone/iMessage-Telstra-Carrier-Sett ings/td-p/29212

Basically I believe the iMessage activator forwarder in Telstra's network is down or something (+61418707634). If anyone knows the international number iMessage should contact for Telstra that'd be great info!

From earlier reading i believe it's +445773142076

I also agree there is some kind of forwarding issue from that local number.. 

Makes the most sense as all other users are being processed eventually, where Telstra users aren't at all.

Was thinking the same thing, have been trying to figure out how to set that number on the iPhone but so far no joy.

I dont think you can (possibly if you're jailbroken)..  Its hard coded in the carrier settings I believe.

update your iTunes on your Mac or Windows to 11.1... then sync your iPhone!!!

Yeah I'm on Telstra and can only send iMessage via my Apple ID. I get a error pop up saying "an error has occurred during activation as soon as I flick iMessage on now and then. Super annoying. I have t done a full restore but I really don't think I should have too. Plus I'm away from my computer now for a week. I did a back up just before updating to ios 7 and just after on my computer.  Hopefully we can get this sorted soon

Telstra mobile rep doesn't have any knowledge of a Telstra issue. I've provided them with more info, but at 5pm on a Friday, I'm not really holding my breath for a resolution anytime soon. There's definitely two problems here (Apple servers overloaded, and Telstra SMS number broken or overloaded) and Telstra are probably going to blame Apple until Apple's servers are responsive again. Hope Telstra engineers work weekends!

Interestingly my ip5S has now activated on my appleid but not my mobile number yet.

Took ages to get the Apple conf email through - 40 min or so.

Might be more than one problem - Apple servers getting hammered for AppleId auth and Telstra servers for the phone number activation.

Same issues here on a brand new 5S set up as a new phone so there shouldn't be issues with restoring etc.

Also on Telstra.

Nothing fixed yet.

I have the same from O2  ( in Leeds,  which I wonder if the 4G might be a further complication )

I can't try the full reset until I get home tonight - but certainly seems like an activiation issue where the SMS activiation code is being received, but not processed by the phone.  In the mean time,  I can't do iMessage or Facetime via my O2 number - only via an iCloud account.

The code style and number it comes from is well documented as being O2's configuration via SMS.

Apparently this issue is down to Apple? Good job we have Whatsapp the free text and picture message service ;>)

So keep receiving texts ( from O2) that are trying to do the activation,  but aren't succeeding and the texts are just being displayed in the messages folder

Numbers changed - now from +44 7860 015000

ùéèΩ@@REG-RESP?

v=3;r=66c9eb52;n=

<your number>;s=025223C

JKEKVAQEVNEVENKJNEJKN

EBAVEJAJVEBJBJEBBJB

EVBJEVJV

Here's the thing: when Settings says "Waiting for activation", it seems to actually be already activated. iMessaging seems to be fully functional despite the status displayed in the menu. Perhaps a GUI error? Might be easily fixed in a hotfix ie 7.0.2 etc....

I had this probelem. Too. I tried several times to activate imessage with apple ID but no way,

NOW.. i made the backup on my Macbook, reset the iphone, re installed IOS 7. Resume the back up from Macbook.

Everythin's runnin fine!