iPhone 6 AT&T Activation Issues
To whom it may concern…. I thought I would share my story so another poor sole would not have to experience it.. I received my new iPhone 6 ordered through the Apple Store online. Powered on the device, started to go through the activation process, got to the area to enter my providers (AT&T) billing zip code and last four digits of my social security number… This failed; stating the information I was entering was incorrect. I noticed I had cell coverage, turned off WiFi to confirm it was indeed connected, and it was, tried again it failed.. Restarted the device, tried again still no dice… I then tried performing the same series of steps through iTunes, still with no luck. Tried a updated MAC and even a Windows PC… I have no firewalls in place and actually disabled anything that could remotely be blocking the connection on my home personal network. Confirmed my host file was not altered in any way as well. SO.. per instructions from the ever so handy prompts... I call the 800 number listed in the prompt. I then get directed to PURCHASE a support package for this call... I refuse and sit in silence to then get re-directed to someone.. (genius I know) This person told me that he actually just got off the phone with someone that had the same or similar sounding issue, and advised me to call AT&T. So.. I then call AT&T.. long story short.. They confirm the information I am entering in is indeed correct. Was able to confirm ICCID and IMEI number and they did indeed see on their portal my phone was indeed activated… yet on the device itself, it displayed the information I was entering was incorrect. They confirmed the network I was on showed the correct set of APNs, that the correct calling plan was active and the terms and agreements were accepted. All showing the account was perfectly fine.. Not knowing the exact relationship between AT&T and Apple’s servers and how this information is shared or past along… tried to restore the device.. Booted the phone into restore, device prompts to connect to iTunes, I connect device, message states to download ios8 and install. I proceed… I then get the following error 3194 in iTunes on my MAC, more than likely because I’m on preview of Yosemite I thought.. and I’m sure I signed something somewhere noting I could experience a wide range of issues and that “Apple” was not at fault.. Which is cool… SO.. back over to the deeded Windows machine… upgraded iTunes, attempted to restore, and what do you know.. the restore worked.. Ever so anxiously I wait for the device to boot up… I was presented with similar notifications.. BAM failed again.. AT&T support told me to go to an AT&T store… Livid I do this… after an hour of trying the same troubleshooting steps, not listening to my various troubleshooting steps… they did try a new SIM just to see, hoping that would work, but it didn’t. They told me to go to an Apple store… I then drive to an Apple store, of course it was packed, who doesn’t wasn’t a new iPhone!? I was assured specialists were on site, and they were. Three AT&T “experts” never saw this issue.. SO… they gave me a new phone.. 5 hours after getting my new phone and various hours explaining over and over again what the issue was and it is in no database anywhere… please.. add this to a database or article somewhere… The fix was a new phone…. IF there is a logical explanation for all of this. I would LOVE to hear it. -A loyal Apple customer Brandon