iPhone activation delays continue, Apple offers $30
updated 02:30 pm EDT, Sun June 21, 2009
iPhone activation delays
Apple and AT&T are continuing to experience problems with new iPhone activations. Following initial activation delays of up to 48 hours, Apple began notifying customers early Sunday morning that customers may experience additional delays due to "system issues" and "high activation volumes." Although Apple did not disclose any numbers, AT&T's CEO said that the carrier had "hundreds of thousands" of pre-orders for the new, faster iPhone and analysts expect about 500,000 iPhone 3G S devices to be sold by the two companies in the first weekend.
In the same email, Apple also told those customers that would receive an iTunes Store credit of $30 as a token for the lingering activation issues. "On Monday, you'll receive an email from Apple with an iTunes Store credit in the amount of $30. We hope you will enjoy this gift and accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this delay has caused," the company wrote in the email to customers.
It is unclear as to how many customers are affected by the activation issues. The credit, though, is small token for the inconvenience experienced by customers without phone service or those unable to use their new iPhones, significantly impacting the iPhone purchase experience.
"I'd rather just have my iPhone activated. I paid nearly the full amount because I didn't qualify for early upgrade pricing, but the device is just a brick until Apple or AT&T can fix this issues," one reader told MacNN. "They know that they are going to sell a bunch of iPhones, so it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't be ready for the activations."
Dear Apple Customer,
Thank you for your recent Apple Store order. We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay in your iPhone activation.
We are still resolving the issue that was encountered while activating your iPhone with AT&T. Unfortunately, due to system issues and continued high activation volumes, this could take us up to an additional 48 hours to complete.
On Monday, you'll receive an email from Apple with an iTunes Store credit in the amount of $30. We hope you will enjoy this gift and accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this delay has caused.
Thank you for choosing Apple.
Sincerely,
Apple Online Store Team
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2009
All carriers screwup
Man, Apple is doing its best to compensate for AT&T failures. Yet again Apple is showing everyone how it's done. These are precisely the kinds of issues that prompt Apple to handle everything on their own and keep their ecosystem closed. If you want something done right do it yourself.
If Apple could've started their own wireless carrier service (and I'm sure they seriously considered it) they certainly would have.