AT&T Store COULD NOT Activate new iPhone 3G... Sent home to activate!

[interesting]

This is the message I am getting:

We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The network connection timed out.

Make sure your network settings are correct and your network connection is active, then try again.

Of course I can access the iTunes Store and download all the music I want.

I'm getting the same thing. I also got a Norton warning that Apple Computer Bojour wanted access to my comp.

 

[usclaneyj]

The 9838 Error Codes finally stopped, and after a while of trying and getting a -4 Error, I was finally able to get through and activate. All seems to be well now.

 

[ernie2249]

Same here. Bought the phone from A.T.&T. no store activation, but had to sign up for plan, etc. The sales rep told me to call her if I could not activate by 2PM
Eastern Time. I don't know why 2 PM, but that's what she said. At least my old phone through Sprint is still working. As more areas of the country started to go on line (different times zones), this problem started. Apple should have anticipated this and added more resources to their servers!

 

[mkoesel]

the lady who i got the iPhone from did not even open the box because she said it wasn't working and sent me home with it. She did not make me sign a contract either? I just upgraded a line through family plan but i just signed my CC receipt..

Nice. Was that at an apple store or at&t store?

 

[bmms8]

Nice. Was that at an apple store or at&t store?

it was at a local ATT store. Also, i have never owned an iPhone, when i try to activate is it okay if i dont have my sim in? or should i put it in before i connect to itunes?

 

[dennarda]

I got my phone around 10:30 EST this morning and was told to go home to activate it. I was getting the same errors, and in fact I still am, but all of the sudden, I got a text from AT&T and the phone started working. I still cannot get through the iTunes process and sync my content, but at least the phone and built in apps are working now.

 

[bmms8]

I got my phone around 10:30 EST this morning and was told to go home to activate it. I was getting the same errors, and in fact I still am, but all of the sudden, I got a text from AT&T and the phone started working. I still cannot get through the iTunes process and sync my content, but at least the phone and built in apps are working now.

How can you make calls? all i get is slide for emergency... sorry this is my first iPhone so i am not familiar with it and i dont want to play around with it to much until i know what i am doing haha

 

[techguy2011]

Well, I was in line today and I didn't receive my iPhone.. Was short 3 spots... Before I left the first guy in line had went home and tried to activate it and it failed so he brought it back and everyone was wondering what was going on. Then the 2nd guy in line came back and so on... People were getting worried. I'll be waiting in line tomorrow. I plan on getting there at 7:30. Mine will be opening at 9:00 since they will be getting more in. I hope to get one this time!

 

[smattmul]

GLAD TO SEE i am not the only one

i thought it was because i got 7.7 early

but go figure

 

[Sergeio24]

The 9838 Error Codes finally stopped, and after a while of trying and getting a -4 Error, I was finally able to get through and activate. All seems to be well now.

which code is this?

 

[SleepyHead157]

same problems here, the harlem store i went to ran out of black ones and had only 16Gb white ones left which was fine for me but still can't access itunes.
The ATT store reps have no idea as to what to do, i was upgrade eligible and the rep tried to tell me that I was not and I had my my account since last july. I flipped out in the store telling him i was until the manager came and made him feel like an ass, by saying he is eligible. The rep was looking at the wrong thing.

 

[Tapdawg]

as i kept trying to sync it my new 3g unlocked itself. I have no service and i haven't activated it, but its unlocked. I can connect to my wifi which is ever weirder... go figure.

 

[jnance50]

Got one of the last iPhone 3g's here at Nashua, NH. Still can't activate. Purchased an hour ago at 12pm Eastern. Getting error (-4)

 

[3goldens]

5th Avenue

Just back from 5th avenue store. No instore activations through itunes there either and it appears to be a system wide problem as I can not do this at home either.
unknown error -4 ?????

this really sucks since the phone is locked!

Great going APPLE & ATT!

Breaking: iPhone 3G launch a disaster for Apple, AT&T, and customers

http://thestandard.com/news/2008/07/11/breaking-iphone-purchases-are-totally-screwed-every-imaginable-way

 

[BuddyTronic]

OK, AirSource Rogers reps sent me home to finish activation through iTunes since it was overloaded.

Rogers computers and phones are all tied up, so I was lucky to get out of there early with my white 16g iPhone.

OK here is the big question and would like someone to confirm:


The AirSource Rogers Reps said "You must use iTunes 7.6.3 to activate, NOT 7.7 version" I was surprised.

I got home and googled 7.6.3 and found some references to instore activation procedures and a special 7.6.3b4 version.

So I downloaded it and am now trying to activate from 2 Macs - one with 7.7 and the other with 7.6.3b4.

There was some crap about some Windows shortcuts - I don't care about Windows - what about Mac.


http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/...-procedure-leaked-storeactivationmode-switch/

Can anyone confirm that they used iTunes 7.7 to home activate? OR did you have to downgrade to 7.6.3b4? It seems like the Rogers stores here were pretty insistent that "7.6.3" be used to activate.

Right now I can't tell if it's server overload at iTunes, or if I have the wrong version and not configured properly for this "in store activation at home" BS.

Any tips for doing this on the Mac side of things at home, I would figure that 7.7 has the same and more, but who knows what "security" concerns are causing all this debaucle.

I must say it was easier when you could buy at the Apple Store, take it home and Ziphone the thing, but whatever, they only had 20 pcs in each Rogers location, so by tommorrow they will fix me up if I can't get through today.


PS - the 3G iPhone feels lighter! Can't wait to play Super Monkey ball!

 

[chrisblaze]

I just left AT&T and they told us to activate it from home. They received an email from their corporate office, tell them to let people unse their iTunes at home.

 

[BuddyTronic]

I just left AT&T and they told us to activate it from home. They received an email from their corporate office, tell them to let people unse their iTunes at home.

But they didn't tell you anything about using the 7.6.3 version? The Rogers guys here in Canada insisted on it, and I couldn't figure out why. Maybe it's a red herring, but I want someone to tell me they "in store at home activated" with iTunes 7.7.

I get 2 different types of errors when I try with 7.6.3 and with 7.7. The 7.7 gives me a "We could not complete your iTunes Store Request An Unknown error occurred (-4). There was an error in the iTUnes Store, Please try again later"

and the 7.6.3 sez "We could not complete your ITunes Store request, the Network connection was reset, make sure your net connect is active and try again"


I can bring it back later, but I'll try from home if I can.


PS - I'll note here that nobody else getting "iPhoned up" was able to activate at the AirSource place - iTunes was overloaded like everything else it seemed.

 

[lamina]

I waited in line starting at 5:30am, and finally got home now. It's 1:00pm. My phone isn't activated yet. I'm having the iTunes Store error thing. I am exhausted. Just too tired to be as furious as I should be.

Rogers, kiss my ass.
Apple, kiss my ass.

 

[Jonathan234]

phone working at least

I have the same problems as all of you with the itunes store. However someone called me and now my phone at least works. At&t sent me a text and everything. I can access the icons on the main screen but cannot sync.

 

[EngBrian]

I have the same problems as all of you with the itunes store. However someone called me and now my phone at least works. At&t sent me a text and everything. I can access the icons on the main screen but cannot sync.

My friend up here in Canada can't even receive calls or texts. Calls just go straight to voicemail. Not sure if the states are different or you did something else but at least you aren't missing calls.

 

[BuddyTronic]

Apparently, my friend said that iTunes 7.7 will be OK now, so it seems that the 7.6.3b4 truly was a red herring.

BUT - still waiting to hear if anyone activated with iTunes 7.7 on a Mac with no voodoo.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

OH NO!

iTunes SERVER HAS CRASHED!!!!!

CANNOT ACTIVATE THE NEW iPhone THAT I GOT AS A CORPORATE ACCOUNT, (yes, my company is actually re-imbruing the cost of the iPhone! I stood in line since 3AM PST at my local Apple Store)

GOT MY NEW iPhone (the line was short at my local Apple Store, although TV crew were there) AND NOW, JUST AS I EXPECTED, iTunes SERVER IN CUPERTINO HAS CRASHED....... (people activating iPhones ALL AT THE SAME TIME)

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE HOURS TO FIX....

 

[rfong06]

After I got my phone activated at att they told me to go sync it to itunes. But I have no bars on my phone and i have a lock symbol over my phone..... I can't sync to my itunes either. He put my old razr sim card into the iphone and he ge gave ma 3g sim card??? Which one is suppose 2 be in there?

 

[EngBrian]

OH NO!

iTunes SERVER HAS CRASHED!!!!!

CANNOT ACTIVATE THE NEW iPhone THAT I GOT AS A CORPORATE ACCOUNT, (yes, my company is actually re-imbruing the cost of the iPhone! I stood in line since 3AM PST at my local Apple Store)

GOT MY NEW iPhone (the line was short at my local Apple Store, although TV crew were there) AND NOW, JUST AS I EXPECTED, iTunes SERVER IN CUPERTINO HAS CRASHED....... (Americans activating iPhones ALL AT THE SAME TIME)

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE WEEKS TO FIX....

a) not just american's...worldwide (well 20 or so countries)
b) What are you talking about weeks to fix?

But I imagine since you are typing in all caps you are trying to get attention so perhaps I shouldn't feed into it....too late.

 

[mjritter]

went to apple store at 5am, got in...bought the phone with ease...when to activate, froze up. they sent me home and now i'm on my MacBook trying to sync and getting the (-4) error every single time.

looks like we're all in the same boat (for the most part).