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Apple's iPhone 3G activation/sync fiasco (updated 5x)

By Jason D. O'Grady | July 11, 2008, 7:21am PDT

Summary

Atlantic City — I’m not sure if it’s just a server load issue because of all the east coast Apple and AT&T stores opening, but here at the Apple Store at The Pier customers are being told that their phones can’t be activated and to take them home to activate. Rob and I popped upstairs [...]

Topics

Apple iPhone, Server, Apple Inc., 3G, Cellular Phones, Wireless, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Jason D. O\'Grady

Blogger Info

Jason D. O'Grady

Biography

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady developed an affinity for Apple computers after using the original Lisa, and this affinity turned into a bona-fide obsession when he got the original 128 KB Macintosh in 1984.

He started writing one of the first Web sites about Apple (O'Grady's PowerPage) in 1995 and is considered to be one of the fathers of blogging. He has been a frequent speaker at the Macworld Expo conference and a member of the conference faculty. He also co-founded the first dedicated PowerBook User Group (PPUG) in the United States.

After winning a major legal battle with Apple in 2006, he set the precedent that independent journalists are entitled to the same protections under the First Amendment as members of the mainstream media.

O'Grady is the author of The Nexus One Pocket Guide, The Droid Pocket Guide, The Google Phone Pocket Guide, and The Garmin nuvi Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press), the author of Corporations That Changed the World: Apple Inc. (Greenwood Press), and a contributor to The Mac Bible (Peachpit Press). In addition, he has contributed to numerous Mac publications over the years, including MacWEEK, Macworld, and MacPower (Japan).

When he's not writing about Apple for ZDNet at The Apple Core, he enjoys spending time with his family in New Jersey.

David Morgenstern

Biography

David Morgenstern

David Morgenstern

David Morgenstern has covered the Mac market and other technology segments for 20 years. In the recent past, he founded Ziff-Davis' Storage Supersite, served as news editor for Ziff Davis Internet and held several executive editorial positions at eWEEK. In the 1990s, David was editor of Ziff Davis' award-winning MacWEEK news publication as well as its successor title, eMediaWEEKly, which focused on multiplatform professional content creation. His byline can be found online and in print publications including CreativePro.com, Peachpit Press' Mac Bible and Popular Photography.

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Atlantic City — I’m not sure if it’s just a server load issue because of all the east coast Apple and AT&T stores opening, but here at the Apple Store at The Pier customers are being told that their phones can’t be activated and to take them home to activate. Rob and I popped upstairs to the coffee bar (thanks to free coupons from Apple) and connected to the free Wi-Fi network only to have the same problem.

iPhone 3G activation servers down

When connecting the iPhone 3G to iTunes, the barber pole spins for a minute then throws a -9838 error (pictured). Anyone else having activation issues?

Apple’s iPhone activation servers down (updated)

Update: Apple has put up a new error page in iTunes, so it appears that the activation problems are on Apple’s end of things. To make matters worse, upgraders are left with lobotomized 2G iPhones that show a “No Service” message. Buying a “new” iPhone today effectively leaves you with two dead phones (Techmeme).

iTunes activation error

Update 2 (11:20 ET): After watching the barber pole spin in iTunes for about 30 minutes I finally got a funky -4 error (above) but I looked at the iPhone screen and I’m activated baby! Apple needs to work on their error messages a little, but the takeaway is that the activation servers appear to be over capacity and it’s best to just hang tough and wait. Patience, jedi, Patience.

Update 3 (11:30 ET): Although my new iPhone is activated and can make and receive calls, I can’t sync it to iTunes to get my old iPhone data (address book, iCal, email, apps, etc.). I’m still getting the barber pole for about 10 minutes, then the -4 error (above). While my new iPhone is technically functional, it’s still kinda hobbled. Steve release the hounds, I need my address book.

Update 4 (12:00 ET): I spoke with AT&T Mobility Executive Director of Media relations, Mark Siegel and he mentioned that the activation issue is on Apple’s end and that “Apple is working to resolve the issue as fast as they can.” AT&T meanwhile is also telling their iPhone customers to take their iPhones home unactivated and “try it again later.”

Update 5 (12:50 ET): Still getting the infamous -4 error in iTunes (although my iPhone is activated.) I don’t understand why I can’t restore my iPhone data from a backup. I don’t need to access to iTunes store to restore but it tries the store immediately upon plugging in the iPhone. Canceling (by clicking on the little “x”) just leaves me with a blank iTunes window. I’d love to know of a way to get around the phoning home part. Thoughts?

Jason D. O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

Disclosure

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason O'Grady is the creator and editor of O'Grady's PowerPage, which has been publishing mobile technology news since 1995. He maintains an advertising relationship with the following legacy advertisers on the PowerPage:

  • Amazon Associates
  • Google Adsense
  • Tekserve
  • Weaknees

Advertising on the PowerPage is brokered by a third-party agency (BackBeat Media) and he recuses himself from these negotiations. Jason also provides consulting services for AirTight Networks.

Biography

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady developed an affinity for Apple computers after using the original Lisa, and this affinity turned into a bona-fide obsession when he got the original 128 KB Macintosh in 1984.

He started writing one of the first Web sites about Apple (O'Grady's PowerPage) in 1995 and is considered to be one of the fathers of blogging. He has been a frequent speaker at the Macworld Expo conference and a member of the conference faculty. He also co-founded the first dedicated PowerBook User Group (PPUG) in the United States.

After winning a major legal battle with Apple in 2006, he set the precedent that independent journalists are entitled to the same protections under the First Amendment as members of the mainstream media.

O'Grady is the author of The Nexus One Pocket Guide, The Droid Pocket Guide, The Google Phone Pocket Guide, and The Garmin nuvi Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press), the author of Corporations That Changed the World: Apple Inc. (Greenwood Press), and a contributor to The Mac Bible (Peachpit Press). In addition, he has contributed to numerous Mac publications over the years, including MacWEEK, Macworld, and MacPower (Japan).

When he's not writing about Apple for ZDNet at The Apple Core, he enjoys spending time with his family in New Jersey.

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