iPhone 3G S activations could take a couple of days

June 20, 2009 | Dean Takahashi | Comments | |

apple-insider-imageThe usual glitches are back. Apparently it can take a couple of days to activate a new iPhone 3G S due to a heavy backlog.

Last year, customers fumed at the time it took to activate their iPhone 3G phones after launch day. Now, the same thing is happening as you plug your iPhone 3G S into a computer and try to sync it with iTunes. A message from Apple warns, “Your activation may take additional time to complete. Due to current activation volumes, it may take up to 48 hours to resolve your issue.”

While AT&T and Apple clearly knew what they were getting into this time, they still don’t seem to have fixed the process of making customers happy from the very beginning of ownership. This may subside in a few days, but somehow you have to believe they can do better. Maybe by the time the iPhone 4Z, or whatever they call it, arrives.

[photo credit: Apple Insider]

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About the Author, Dean Takahashi

Dean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

  • ltdvorak
    I just activated my iPhone 3G S. It took FOREVER.

    If forever = 3 seconds, that is.

    And I didn't have any trouble last year with my iPhone 3G, which I purchased a day after it came out. That activation, which was performed in the Apple Store, took much longer: 15 seconds.
  • I think this may be area/region dependant, as many aren't having any trouble.
  • Ashley Morgan
    I was looking at the "waiting for activation" message for about 16 hours and then found this: https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/

    After going through the process, my phone was activated within seconds. I highly recommend trying this before calling AT&T and sitting on-hold.
  • usacouponcodes
    That's Right "I think this may be area/region dependant, as many aren't having any trouble."
    I agree with you.
  • I bought 3G day one last year.
    I've already been charged $563 by Apple for the phone.