AT&T Activations Servers Overloaded with iPhone 4S Launch

IMG 0001 1
As has happened in the past, it seems AT&T's activation servers are having problems with the large influx of activations with the iPhone 4S launch. A quick search of Twitter shows many having problems activating their AT&T iPhone 4Ss due to server issues. A discussion thread in our forum also mirrors the complaints.

With the iPhone 4S launched now across the entire U.S., we are at the peak of simultaneous AT&T iPhone 4S activations. AT&T has had similar issues in previous launches. Japanese carrier Softbank was reported to have similar issues during their launch this morning.

Top Rated Comments

Moyank24 Avatar
159 months ago
This is not a surprise.

You would think 5 phones later, AT&T would be more prepared for days like this.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Small White Car Avatar
159 months ago
Is it too much to ask that iPhone owners just wait a few hours?

Apparently. We live in the 'right now' culture, I guess.

Me? I'd rather wait a little while rather than pay AT&T even more money so they can build up a system for activating a million iPhones at once that will only get used once a year. What a waste of money.


Likewise, it didn't bother me that it took awhile for me to download iOS 5. When everyone's trying to do the same thing it's gonna slow you down. Ever been to a concert or sporting event? Sometimes you've just gotta wait.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78-bit Avatar
159 months ago
Look at it from AT&T's perspective. Why spent millions upon millions to overhaul a system that only ***** the bed once a year for a very specific group of people?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rodimus Prime Avatar
159 months ago
This is not a surprise.

You would think 5 phones later, AT&T would be more prepared for days like this.

And you would think Apple would learn requiring a new sim card for every iPhone causes some major problems. The iPhone is the only phone that does not reuse sim cards. The aim card in my phone is nearly 4 years old and on its third cell phone. My dad's sim still says Cingular on it and going great. Apple on the other hand does not reuse them and cause the servers to get slammed. You would think Apple would learn. A lot of the blame lies with Apple for not using the standards of gsm on this one.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tigres Avatar
159 months ago
yep. dead in the water again. 1.5 hours, nada

Did AT&T know about today?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johncrab Avatar
159 months ago
With one million of these selling in the first 24 hours and with untold millions landing today I don't think there is any way (frustrated as I am) to expect any infrastructure to handle this kind of a load. I think Apple needs to grow up and stop with these preschool launches. Sure, they build buzz but these growing customer numbers mean that the buzz leads to disappointment. This roll out should have happened in stages, not on one day. They pulled this with the iPhone 3G with the launch of Mobile Me on the same day and almost brought everything crashing down. Apple needs to realize it is no longer a toy com pay but a major player with real lives, real work and real money on the line and act accordingly.

----------

HEY I GOT AN EMAIL!

It is from BevMo and it's telling me about a great wine sale. Since my phone won't activate, I think I'll go there and look at wine. Wine works, is easy to activate and leaves a happy feeling afterward.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 16 4 Web Push

Apple Confirms Governments Using Push Notifications to Surveil Users

Wednesday December 6, 2023 5:06 am PST by
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users by tracking push notifications that move through Google's and Apple's servers, a US senator warned on Wednesday (via Reuters). In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from the tech giants to track smartphones. The traffic flowing from apps that send push notifications...
airpods pro 2 pink

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware update for both the Lightning and USB-C versions of the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 6B34, up from the 6B32 firmware introduced in November. Apple does not provide details on what features might be included in the refreshed firmware beyond "bug fixes and other improvements," so it is unclear what's new in the update, but prior software releases ...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

'All-Screen' iPhone Under-Display Camera Enters Development

Wednesday December 6, 2023 2:03 am PST by
Apple's Korean suppliers have begun developing smartphone under-display cameras (UDC), paving the way for the first iPhone with a true "all-screen" appearance. According to The Elec, LG Innotek has entered the preliminary development of the UDC, which sits under the display and does not result in a visible hole in the panel when the camera is not in use. A UDC differs from a typical front ...
magsafe blue 2

iOS 17.2 Brings Qi2 Support to iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 Models

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:04 am PST by
The iOS 17.2 update that Apple is set to release to the public in the near future will bring support for the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Qi2 was mentioned in the release notes for the RC version of the update that came out today. With the addition of support for the new standard, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models will work with Qi2...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 May Reuse Existing iPhone 14 Battery

Wednesday December 6, 2023 1:17 pm PST by
Recently, MacRumors has received details on the battery currently being tested on the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the information corroborates previous findings in relation to the device. The iPhone SE 4, known by its device identifier D59, is expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14. Partially assembled prototypes of the next iPhone SE have been ...
airpods pro bulbs

Black Friday Prices Return for AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C, iPad, and More

Tuesday December 5, 2023 7:30 am PST by
Today we're tracking a collection of deals that are matching - or nearly matching - the same all-time low discounts we saw during Black Friday. This includes the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, 9th generation iPad, and M1 MacBook Air. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the ...
instagram messenger

Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month

Tuesday December 5, 2023 1:57 am PST by
Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago. In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform....