Posted on 07/03/2007 8:01:44 PM PDT by angkor
iPhone Activation Disasters
Three hours after getting my hands on one, I am ready to drop the thing from the 44th floor of the New York Hilton.
I was so excited flying from my home in Halifax to New York this morning--I was getting an iPhone! But three hours after getting my hands on one, I am ready to drop the thing from the 44th floor of the New York Hilton--and I probably would if I was sure it would hit someone from AT&T. Earlier this week I transferred my Macworld business account to an individual account solely for the purpose of getting an iPhone--I had to since business plans don't qualify for the iPhone. I know for a fact that I'm not the only person who had to do this--and judging from the wait time I'm having on tech support, I'm not the only one having problems.
When I tried to activate my account, I got an error message that said my account couldn't be used with the iPhone. I called AT&T and explained the situation--the service-provider checked the account and said I definitely have a qualifying account. The tech support person checked all kinds of other things and said I should be all set to activate.
No go.
AT&T then said I had to call Apple; I was transferred to Apple iPhone tech support. After explaining the problem, the Apple tech support person asked me to wait while he read some documentation and advised me he would be gone for about four minutes. Four minutes later, we were disconnected without speaking further.
When you get an error activating, a special number comes up. I called it and a recording said they were having technical difficulties and couldn't help me right now and to please call back later.
I decided to call AT&T back again. The person I got said that my account was still listed as a business account--well, that can't be, I changed it. She said I needed to be transferred to another person who would definitely be able to help me.
I explained my problem to the new person who said that my account was most definitely an individual account, not a business account and they didn't know why I couldn't activate it. They needed to transfer me to someone who would be able to help me.
Starting to see a trend here? I explained my problem to the new person who said it could be a business account, and they needed to transfer me. Apparently a password was set on my account when it was transferred and they needed the password in order to check things further.
"But I didn't set a password on the account," I said. AT&T said, for security reasons, it couldn't do anything else until the password was removed.
"OK, remove the password," I said.
Nope, that had to be done at an AT&T retail store where I had to show ID. OK, there is one across the street from the Hilton on Avenue of the Americas in New York.
So, off I went. I explained the situation and said I needed my password removed. The clerk said the store wasn't doing anything but selling iPhones today and that if I needed anything else, I would have to come back tomorrow.
I left in a huff and called AT&T support back again. I explained the situation and they said they needed to--yes, smart readers--transfer me to someone that could help me.
I have been on tech support for a couple of hours, been hung up on once and have been transferred no less than 12 times so far.
And I'm still on hold with AT&T.
If I see that guy from the AT&T Store across the street, this phone is going out the window.
And I see that my colleague Dan Moren is having problems getting his iPhone to work as well. So, Macworld is currently 0-for-2 when it comes to working iPhones; hopefully, our West Coast editors will have better luck.
welcome to the 20th century.
There is far more possible with a feature rich phone. It untethers you from the wall jack, I allows thousands of contacts to be stored in your phone, text messaging (sms) is a godsend when you need to send a brief message without all the blah blah blah. In addition a simple 2 gig micro sd chip replaces any ipod and can connect your phone directly into your auto stereo.
For one using FR, i am surprised by your comments. They could just as easily equate with saying who needs the internet, network news is more than enough.
No need for an iPhone to have problems with basic stuff with ATT. We just got voice over IP thru our cable company and CALLED ATT to tell them we no longer needed long distance service. A snotty woman in India said I did not need to have called since this would be done automatically and she insisted that I would still need a long distance provider. I told her nevertheless, cancel the long distance.
Surprise, surprise, I still got a bill from ATT a month later. I called and this time got a cooperative gentleman in India and he finally cancelled my service. But ATT got a month of my $ for nothing.
The horror, the sheer horror of it all. I can't even contemplate what he must have gone through.
As for "disappointed noise", that tiny little dose of reality doesn't begin to put a dent in all overblown hype they've mustered for this freaking trinket.
You posted a thread, you get a response, be a man and live with it without bothering people who don't agree with you with potshots in their mailboxes.
No wonder apple has the reputation of being the choice of girliemen.
What?! A Lexus dealer with no Starbucks inside?! I'm gonna write to my congressman.
Worse phone service on the planet? Try canceling Vonage. I had to call investor relations and talk to some dude in “exectutive response.”
Speaking of which, have you seen this: Go Away Paris
“Worse phone service on the planet? Try canceling Vonage.”
Curious, why’d you drop Vonage?
I’ve had a lot of static and hissing on my Vonage line, but I’ve attributed it to all the Ethernet cables and power supplies I have near the Vonage router (no way around it either). Bought a new cordless 6.8Gh phone last weekend and it’s the same, but now with a much improved quality of static and hissing. Seems to me when I first got Vonage (2+ years ago) it was crystal clear.
But the Iphone he bought is locked to AT&T network... no one has unlocked one yet (out side of Apple/AT&T)...And that just a normal cell phone to a carrier lock
Apple’s rom on the phone is also going to be locked and to get the other services of the Iphone working on an another carriers network is going to be a major “pain in the ass” hack....
> I never buy anything brand new, the moment it’s introduced. There are always bugs to be worked out.<
You mean like with Windows. LOL I still have hard wired phones in my house and a couple of the ones you can walk around with. The Mrs has a cell phone from way back when. It’s about the size of a TV remote. Works just fine.
They can keep all the new fangled stuff ‘cause I already have enough grey hair.
Invisib1e... I haven't the foggiest idea of what you are talking about.
I pinged the Mac ping list to your thread in a public posting to over 250 members which contained no sarcasm aimed at you but some mild deirision at the writer of the article.
I also responded to your Freepmail in which you said "Much obliged ;)" which I interpreted to be a request to be added to the ping list but was not certain. That's why I said in my return mail:
"Welcome to the Mac Ping list... I think that’s what you are requesting, right?"Where's the sarcasm?
If I misinterpreted your request, I am sorry and will remove your name from the Ping list. Certainly no sarcasm was intended.
This is why you never want to be “the first” to get new technology. Let the company work the bugs out first, THEN go ahead (and it’ll be a lot cheaper then too).
Just like why I’m one of those who got a “free Vista upgrade” when I bought my desktop last year. I still haven’t installed it.
I see... despite the fact that 98% or better of those who purchased an iPhone had absolutely no problem activating their service, you would prefer to focus on the small minority who had a problem that took a few hours to resolve.
Were YOU one of those 2%? If not, why are you so bitter?
man, you need some fresh air.
I get plenty of fresh air, thank you.
Did you get out of bed on the wrong side this morning?
I again repeat... where is the sarcasm... especially aimed at you? I don't see any in the Freepmail we exchanged.
They know that. But they have to be first with the new gadget in order to write stories others will read.
I am still at a loss as to what has gotten you upset. I sent no "potshots" to your mailbox! Why would I?
The first interaction I ever had with you was when I received a Freepmail from you that originated on a different thread:
Re: iPhone rocks! For techie geek, it's a little dream machineTo which I replied:
From the invisib1e hand | 07/03/2007 7:07:21 PM PDT repliedmuch obliged ;)
Re: iPhone rocks! For techie geek, it's a little dream machineNotice the time signatures... you freepmailed me at 7:07 PM PDT and I replied to you at 8:16 PM PDT responding to what I interpreted as a request to be added to the Mac Ping list.
To the invisib1e hand | 07/03/2007 8:16:35 PM PDT sentWelcome to the Mac Ping list... I think that’s what you are requesting, right?
Swordmaker
I get a lot of these... but they are usually a little more explicit than "much obliged ;)" which is why I asked for a confirmation but went ahead and added your name to the list. I see no sarcasm in the reply I sent to you. Do you?
Four minutes later, at 8:20 PM PDT, I pinged the list to Angkor's posting about the iPhone activation complaints which you seem to have taken personally. It certainly was not directed at YOU personally.
You then reply publicly on this thread and attack me, claiming I sent "potshots" to your email. That makes no sense.
I have removed your name from the Mac Ping list.
My daughter has a Boston Terrier; he has got to be the dumbest dog in Dogdom.
This dog runs away when you call, “Come,” he chews on tissues and swallows them, it takes him ten steps to finish a bowel movement, when he lies on the floor, he splays his rear legs out to each side just as an eviscerated fish would be flung on the slab before filleting; his eyes are way too wide apart and he weighs 44 pounds.
Never has an AKC certified four-legged creature been so unconforming and so unperforming in the history of AKC’ing.
But, this dog can chew a stick; can he ever chew a stick, poison ones, green ones and even ones still stuck in the ground. Stickball is his game and he is a champion. No fancy-dancy sticks for this mug, just a stick, plain and simple.
If this dog was a kid and I had more money than brains, I’d get him an IPhone and just watch the fun.
But then again, I go on EBay every now and then, trying to catch that ad I saw one late night for Darius Green’s Flying Machine.
At times like this, I wish that Bill Clinton was still in office.
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