Gizmodo has detailed the official AT&T response to what is happening right now with what’s being called, "The iPocalypse". Basically it appears the hordes are trying to update iTunes and iPhone 1.x devices to the 2.0 firmware which requires re-authentication at the same time all AT&T stores are trying to do the same. Friends in NYC reported 1.5-2hrs to activate in AT&T stores per person before they scrapped plans for in-store activation and are sending users home with promises you’ll be able to activate at home. But unfortunately, the dialog box at right is what all of we purchasers worldwide are being greeted with instead.
To add insult to injury, if you’re upgrading an existing line to the new iPhone, your old SIM card is deactivated before you leave the store. Normally this whole thing would just be a minor nuisance but now I’m without a functioning mobile phone with no idea when it will be back. So I paid ~$300 plus giving AT&T a free day’s worth of my monthly fees due to service outage. If this keeps up, AT&T better credit my account for lack of available service.
I’m really surprised there’s been no official response from Apple after hours since this issue arose. Perhaps they’re hoping the Apple PR halo effect will enact a cone of silence and this too will be forgotten/ignored. A couple of sarcastic comments about enterprise scalability are sure to be made, Apple will tout unprecedented demand and the populist press will note only a few minor issues
Chris, you were right to stay home. Meh.
Update: Authorization servers appear to be working now. Updating now.
Update2: Andru Edwards and the crew at GearLive detail their snafus with activation. Looks like my issues were small in comparison.