IPhone 3GS won't activate. HELP!

I have tried to activate my iPhone 3GS after an update. My SIM card is giffgaff which is O2. My paperweight, sorry, iPhone is locked to O2 so no problems with the SIM card. What I keep getting is the message: "Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting it to iTunes to activate it, or try again in a few minutes. If this problem persists, contact Apple Support at apple.com/support."
I tried connecting it to iTunes numerous times but all to no avail. I rung Apple and after a nice conversation I was told to try another wifi network and another SIM card. Now like most normal families I only have one wifi network in my house so travelled to my daughters apartment so I could use her wifi. No prizes for guessing
that that didn't work either. Now if I have to get another SIM card just to activate my paperweight, sorry, iPhone then I feel that is a bit of an inconvenience what with changing my number AGAIN and all that.
Dear Apple. Any help you can give me would be gratefully accepted. Jut don't tell me to get another SIM card or a new wifi network. Either is unacceptable from a company like yours. It feels like the attitude is " our product is fine it's your network/ SIM card / appalling taste in drapes/ terrible furnishings, that's at fault.
Yours waiting in anticipation,
                                             A Paying Customer.  

I'm not sure how O2 operates their network but I would guess that your giffgaff SIM does not use their primary network and is not allowing you to access their activation network. Since your iPhone is locked with O2 it needs to access the O2 network directly to activate. I would suggest going to an O2 shop and use one of their SIMs to activate the iPhone then replace it with your giffgaff card.

Similar Messages

  • What am I supposed to do when my iPhone 3Gs won't activate when I uppdated it to iOS 5.0.1? Thankful for answer and help!

    I uppdated my iPhone 3Gs to iOS 5.0.1 yesterday. And since then I have tried to activate it but it keep saying "Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iPhone to iTunes to activate it, or try again in a couple of minutes."
    I have tried to connect it to iTunes but then iTunes tells that the SIM-card isn't activated or that I got no SIM-card in my iPhone. Please help me! I don't know how to get my iPhone activated so I can use it!

    To update iTunes and sync an iPhone you need to be running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on an Intel Mac.
    Start by checking if you can run Snow Leopard:
    Requirements for OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'
    http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
    The OS 10.6 Snow Leopard install DVD is available for $19.99 from the Apple Store:
    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

  • Iphone 3GS won't activate after update - asks for itunes, which just quits unexpectedly every time!

    I updated my iphone 3GS and now when I turn it on it just asks to be connected to itunes. Problem is when I do this, itunes unexpectedly quits every time. I've updated the laptop and it makes no difference, and I am left without a phone...really not impressed and can't wait for my upgrade to get rid of it.

    Try this:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808
    This put's an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in recovery mode.  Should solve the problem if it is phone related.  If not, you may want to post in iTunes support as well.  I had a similar problem recently with an iPod touch and this fixed it.

  • I'm updating my iphone 3gs but cannot activate it because the message" there is no sim card installed in  the iphone you are attempting to activate", appeared. I've already disconnected my iphone and reinserted the sim,still nothing happened.help!i'm upda

    Ii'm updating my iphone 3gs but cannot activate it because the message" there is no sim card installed in  the iphone you are attempting to activate", appeared. I've already disconnected my iphone and reinserted the sim,still nothing happened.help!

    this problem startedwhen i tried to restore my i phone to original version ,when i had resoterd it said connect to itunes when i connected to i tunes it said no sim card installed so it cant be activated ,and now am stuck.i cnahged my simcard 3 times!!!

  • IPhone 3GS won't start at all...please help

    My iPhone 3GS won't start at all, it only shows the apple logo untill the battery runs out and it keeps on doing that. It happened after I erased all contents & settings. I tried pressing home button & power button for 15 seconds too, it didn't work. Any other ideas?

    while turned off, connect that to the wall charger, it should start normally
    after few minutes.
    if it dont start then put your phone in dfu mode and connect to itunes for
    a restore. for dfu mode search google.

  • My iPhone 3GS won't charge. It saids this accessory is not supported but the charger works on other IPhones. What do I do???

    My iPhone 3GS won't charge! Whenever I plug it in it saids charging not supported by this accessory. What do I do?? Help please!!!

    You can clean the iPhone's dock connector with an old dry toothbrush.
    You won't know for certain, but if no change after making sure the dock connector port is clean, more than likely there is some damage.
    Make an appointment at an Apple store if there is one nearby where it can be determined if there is damage to the dock connector port or if there is another hardware problem.

  • My iPhone 3GS won't charge at all what do I do?

    my iPhone wont charge please help!

    Regarding iPhone 3GS won't charge:
    I have the same iPhone, and also sync with  iTunes on my Mac Book Pro computer.  After just a few months after purchasing my NEW iPhone 3GS, the charger stopped working and would not show up on the computer.  After trouble shooting my equipment, I discovered that the USB CORD was no longer working, NOT the AC Jack Component. My phone was still under warranty for 1year with Apple Care and extended purchased insurance  with VerizonWireless.  I contacted VerizonWireless as per my contract agreement, and was transferred to Apple Care Support.  Apple Care informed me: A new [Apple Manufactured Original Equipment parts] would be replaced free of charge, BUT, I would first need to secure the return of the defective equipment with a deposit of the purchase price on my credit card. After the receipt of my returned defective equipment, my credit card would be credited back for the full deposit amount.  This was NOT acceptable to me.  I called Verizon and they mailed me a new [VerizonWireless Manufactured part] USB Cord. After a time, I had to replace that USB cord also. Apparently the USB Cord burns out after a time of use.  SOLUTION; I keep about 4 new USB Cords in stock at home!!  You may also need to check if your iPhone software is up to date, this could effect it's performance also.
    Hope this helps

  • My iPhone 3GS won't take a charge or turn on. How do I get my photos from it onto my laptop or another iPhone?

    My iPhone 3GS won't take a charge or turn on. How do I get my photos from it onto my laptop or another iPhone? I tried to put my sim card in another working 3GS but it didn't work.

    you can't the photos are not stored on the sim card they are stored in the memory modules of the phone

  • After updating my iphone 3gs not activing please helpe me

    after updating my iphone 3gs not activing please helpe me

    See here  >  http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3424
    Also see this discussion.
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/21189708

  • HT4623 my iphone 3gs will not activate says the server is down and stuck on that screen

    my iphone 3gs will not activate says server is down and it is now stuck on that screen

    You look somewhere else for an answer or you buy a new phone.
    Hacked / jailbroken phones can not be discussed here per the TOS.

  • Iphone 3gs will not activate after restore and update

    my sons iphone 3gs will not activate after restore and ios update.
    phone keeps saying no service but worked fine before restore and update any ideas ? thanks

    Sorry. The jailbreak is undoubtedly the root cause of your problem.
    It is not always possible to repair the damage done by jailbreaking.
    Try searching google for an answer, but be prepared to just buy a new phone.

  • ?? iphone 5 won't activate w/itunes, wants itunes 10.7 which won't install on OS 10.5.8.

    ?? iphone 5 won't activate w/itunes, wants itunes 10.7 which won't install on my IMAC (OS10.5.8)

    Yes... the iPhone 5 on iOS 6 requires iTunes 10.7 which in turn requires OS X 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) or later...
    Check that your Mac meets the System Requirements for Snow Leopard...
    Snow Leopard Tech Specs
    http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
    If so Contact Apple in your Country to Purchase a Snow Leopard Disc...
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
    In the US...
    1-800-MY-APPLE or 1-800-676-2775
    Be sure to make a Backup of your Current System Before Upgrading...

  • HT5273 my iphone 3gs could not activate after update version

    my iphone 3gs could not activate after update version

    This is most likely because it was jailbroken.  In which case, your phone is now permanently disabled.

  • HT5192 my iphone 3gs could not activate after update version

    my iphone 3gs could not activate after update version

    This is most likely because it was jailbroken.  In which case, your phone is now permanently disabled.

  • HT4623 my iphone 3gs won't charge anymore.

    My wife's iphone 3gs won't charge anymore even tho we leave it charging all night.

    You can clean the iPhone's dock connector with an old dry toothbrush.
    You won't know for certain, but if no change after making sure the dock connector port is clean, more than likely there is some damage.
    Make an appointment at an Apple store if there is one nearby where it can be determined if there is damage to the dock connector port or if there is another hardware problem.

Maybe you are looking for