A number of AT&T customers are reporting that it seems that the order processing via Apple’s online store is failing at the point where it tries to contact AT&T for information related to eligibility for iPhone 4S upgrades, orders, or other account information.
The real error message gradually changed as I attempted to work through the process of ordering an upgrade until it finally read as follows and it initially started at a two-minute timer. Now it clearly places the blame on AT&T at this point in the process.
I’ve experienced the problem myself and I’ve gotten reports of the same problem as far away as Alaska this morning. I’m heading to bed and so is my friend in Alaska. We’ll try to get an iPhone 4S by some other means.
Are you experiencing a problem? Have you been successful in ordering an upgrade? Do you have a corporate discount (i.e. a FAN#) applied to your account (problems have been reported for corporate users in the past).
Updated 10/07/2011 at 1:46AM PDT: Now it looks like the whole ordering system has been shutdown:
David W. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry as a programmer, systems and business analyst, author, and consultant. David has written for CNET’s iPhoneatlas.com, MacLife.com, CultofMac.com, BYTE.com and recently for aNewDoman.net. He comes to Cult of Mac’s website with deep knowledge and passion for the all things Apple. Follow David on Twitter @david_w_martin or see what he’s up to now at davidwmartin.com.
112 responses to “Has AT&T Dropped The Ball On iPhone 4S Pre-Orders? [Weak Spots/Updated]”
p1234 error for me, I’m not going to have any luck tonight.
We are currently experiencing high volumes of iPhone orders and may require up to 2 minutes to access your AT&T account information. In order to maintain the priority of your order, please remain on this page.
Just got that one!
I’ve been on trying to order for almost an hour and att keeps failing to process anything. fail att.
I was having that same problem. Finally went to AT&T’s web site. Smooth as silk.
Got reservation number from Apple but then can’t get back to Apple account to finish!!!
I had the same issue with Apple. I went to the AT&T website and had no problems pre-ordering through their website.
Use the at&t upgrade app from the app store. Upgraded three phones in about 15 minutes. Super easy and quick
here’s my experience (see attached). i am able to log into AT&T with the same password that i’ve tried here.
Failed 4 or 5x through the web pages, 4 or 5 through the app (without ever seeing the eligibility), 4 or 5 with eligibility. Nightmare..
Yup.. The same issue.. Have a FAN#. AT&T site has flat out rejected the order, asking me to talk to the premier representative. Once I got till the last option ( I guess), selected the voice,data,text; then it threw me out
Flash:- Apple has stopped accepting temporarily for ATT..
I was able to get a little further where I could choose my plan, which I was already grandfathered into the unlimited data plan and actually got to a point where I could click on the button for “Add to Cart” where it then proceeded to timeout right afterwards. I’ve tried from 3 separate browsers and the iOS app and it’s really annoying. Maybe Sprint and Verizon are having an easier time since a majority of iPhone customers are using AT&T which may be causing a bottleneck somewhere on the Apple side or the AT&T side. Too late to go to bed now…thanks for nothing, Apple!
ATT is not capable of running things at the same speed as we are used with all Apple stuff
Also ran into that and dead-ends at several different points over the last 1+ hours. Now the system has given up entirely: “We are temporarily unable to take iPhone orders. We apologize for this inconvenience. Please try again later
I’m going to sleep.
I’m giving up, an hour and 45 of unable to get through either Apple or AT&T for an upgrade.
Anyone have any luck getting AppleCare+ on their purchases? How do you get it through the ATT process?
Anyone have any luck getting AppleCare+ on their purchases? How do you get it through the ATT process?
It doesn’t even try to check AT&T now. It just says “We are temporarily unable to take iPhone orders.”
Is the AT&T 1500 text messaging plan not grandfathered? Saw the option for the Unlimited $30 though.
Also, got received the Error P1234.
incompetence
After numerous attempts at Apple I ordered through AT&T’s site and it was a cinch. No problems at all.
more incompetence
I just got through successfully on ATT and have a FAN#
How? It’s telling me I can’t use this device (iPhone 3GS) to upgrade from the app and I have to go on the website.
i get the same error
Update, Apple has given me a reservation number, but I will have to log back into to finish. The message said that they are unable to connect to the carrier to verify my eligibility. This means Apple has adjusted some things on the fly and that ATT is still run by rich old white men that think land lines are coming back.
I just got a reservation ticket. Oh, Steve, I love you and refused to buy through the ATT website so I could give the Apple Store my money.
I just ordered here in Canada with not problem what so ever, but I ordered an unlocked iPhone 4S, I don’t believe you guys have the option over there.
Back up now – I just completed my AT&T order (replacing an existing phone).
I’m now getting this error: WS.workflowSessionValidationFailed.webUIBody
Same here, breezed right through ordering on AT&Ts site.
After Apple stopped taking orders I was able to process on ATT. I can’t believe after 5+ years ATT still does not have the ability to handle an Apple Launch.
Your info is like… all over the web now. Just saying. :/
same thing for me…finally apple has resolved to allow you to reserve an iphone with your apple id and password and give you a reservation number. they also say they will email you a confirmation, and then email again when they have contacted at&T for eligibility and plan information. i tried to preorder on at&t also, and they said they will no longer give me my unlimited data or 1500 text plan if i want to upgrade. BS.
so i threw my phone across the room for no reason
i wish apple had their own wireless company so we didn’t have to use at&t….this is madness
and now ATT says i gave them the wrong password and locked my account. Verizon or Sprint who wants to pick me up as a customer
Yup. An hour and a half of error messages. Thanks AT&T
I’m at the completion point on my ATT order but there was NO MENTION of text messaging fees or inclusion in the $30 /unlimited data plan. What is the deal on text messaging fees with a 4s upgrade??
After waiting 10 minutes to see if Apple would get the store back up, I ordered just fine through the Verizon site. No timeouts, no hiccups, nothing out of the ordinary. Just received my confirmation email after almost 2 hours, which is how long the last screen said I might have to wait to get it. Can’t wait! 32GB Black
Tried ordering on AT&T’s website directly, but I am getting error there also.
Finally!! After 2.5 hours i got through via apple.com
Persistance and patience is the key.
Good luck folks
I have a corporate “premier” att account so I had no luck with both apple and att for over two hours…. I finally got one reserved through apple and then tried att one more time and it actually recgonized my corporate account so I completed my order. Yay!! 1.5 hours till i need to get up for work now…..
i *think* i have the answer to this…i went through the upgrade process on at&t to see what was up and you can still be grandfathered in on unlimited data, but it’s now called “data unlimited for iphone 4s”, so you have to delete your previous “data unlimited for iphone” and pick up the former…for texting you only have two options now: $20/month for unlimited texting, pic & video included or $0.20/text and $0.30/pic or vid SMS. the $20/month texting unlimited plan looks like it also included unlimited mobile to mobile calling as well, for any carrier as long as they are a mobile phone.
I finally succeeded pre-ordering through phone call (1-800-MY-APPLE).
It took quite some trials and some waiting time though… But I got it! Woot!
Keep trying and good luck guys!
Madness?
THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!
I think ATT is just trying to nudge customers their way. I finally got two?reservation numbers to come back later. Good enough for me. Sleepy time!
I got my pre-ordered with AT&T and got my order number hasn’t posted on their system yet but I at least have the number.
Same thing happened to me when I ordered my iphone 4!
I was able to get my confirmation in the first 5-10 min
Pre-ordered two iPhone 4S on Verizon with no problems. Delivery date set for next Friday, 10/14/2011
I couldn’t get through on EITHER AT&T or the Apple store this morning…went back to bed and when I did it 10 minutes ago, I couldn’t even find the iPhone 4S on the upgrade list on at&t’s site, but it gave me the unlimited data and unlimited messaging plan options on Apple’s site – which, 2 hours after I gave up trying (tried FOR an hour), went right through with no hiccups!
Odered my iPhone 4S from AT&T without problems.
Last year, it took me over 10 hours to get my preorder in just under the wire. This morning, it took me about 2 minutes. If there was a glitch, it didn’t last long. Thank you Apple and AT&T for making it easy this time around.
AT&T: Worst…communications…company…ever. ;-)
I ordered mine through Orange, direct (UK).
Tried at 2:45 CST and got nowhere at the Apple site – – would get as far as processing the order and kick me off. Went to the AT&T site and was able to place my order with limited problems
Craig Steiger gave up and bought a Samsung Phone in Alaska!
I can’t believe folks are surprised by this. did you forget that 99% of the world doesn’t know they are supposed to read blogs like this to see if the new phone is good or ‘lame’. they just started ordering. By the hundreds and thousands. Even the best server will crash when 1000 folks hit submit at the same time