iMessage in iOS7 Failing to Activate on Telecom Network

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › iMessage in iOS7 Failing to Activate on Telecom Network

westy_nz

53 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#133495 23-Oct-2013 22:20

There are a few of us having issues getting iMessage in iOS7 to activate on the Telecom Network.

See this thread over on the Apple iOS forum: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=76&topicid=133468&page_no=1#920660

One of the theories is that the return SMS message is somehow getting blocked.

I wondered if anyone from Telecom who monitor this forum could suggest a way for checking this out or who to contact?

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1948 posts

Uber Geek
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#920723 23-Oct-2013 22:23

Ring the mobile support team on 0800 800 163.

They can track what is going on.

Kyanar

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#920771 24-Oct-2013 07:06

Side note, got an update to iOS (7.0.3) this morning. One of the listed fixes was for iMessage failing to activate for some users. Maybe related?

johnr

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#920772 24-Oct-2013 07:07

Good chance

Kickass

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Ultimate Geek
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#920779 24-Oct-2013 07:49

Kyanar: Side note, got an update to iOS (7.0.3) this morning. One of the listed fixes was for iMessage failing to activate for some users. Maybe related?

Yes it has fixed some isssues - especially around images failing to send via imessage (my partners phone was having this issue) - still have some activation problem here...

Hopefully someone from telecom is reading this :)

westy_nz

53 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#920787 24-Oct-2013 08:21

A complete re-install of 7.0.3 (set the phone up as a new one) didn't fix it for me.

iMessage still not activated this morning. I'm going to call Telecom today if I get a chance. Let's hope I get someone who knows what I'm talking about.

JamesHancox

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#920802 24-Oct-2013 09:00

The iMessage thing is not a carrier issue. If it were, then mine wouldn't be working either. Likely everyone would be. But the bug seemed to only affect some, and not others, regardless of network.

Hopefully you've not called Telecom yet, and berated a poor staffer that likely won't know what to do.

Your issue is with Apples product. Highly recommend you ask them for assistance.

PS I had the same issue prior to the update. Fixed it by resetting my network settings. There is a step-by-step appearing as one of the first few results of a Google search. Since the update I've not had further issues. I am with Telecom btw.

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westy_nz

53 posts

Master Geek
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#920823 24-Oct-2013 09:36

JamesHancox: The iMessage thing is not a carrier issue. If it were, then mine wouldn't be working either. Likely everyone would be. But the bug seemed to only affect some, and not others, regardless of network.

Hopefully you've not called Telecom yet, and berated a poor staffer that likely won't know what to do.

Your issue is with Apples product. Highly recommend you ask them for assistance.

PS I had the same issue prior to the update. Fixed it by resetting my network settings. There is a step-by-step appearing as one of the first few results of a Google search. Since the update I've not had further issues. I am with Telecom btw.

Yes I have tried the reset network settings suggested fix many times and the many other "tips tricks". I know how to use Google to search. I have spent quite a bit of time investigating this and trying all the tricks. I knew 7.0.3 had fixes for iMessage activation and waited for it to come out but it has not helped me.

To be clear, yesterday after trying all the tricks, I completely re-installed 7.0.3. I did not restore from a backup. I set the phone up as a new iPhone. The problem still exists.

I only started to post on Geekzone after trying every avenue I know to fix the issue; I don't want to waste peoples time.

My understanding of iMessage on an iPhone (I could be wrong) is that there is a txt message exchange under the hood that validates the phone number. Therefore there is a carrier involvement. Also, iMessage works on my iPad (WiFi model) using the email addresses associated with my Apple ID. Johnr, a systems engineer from Vodafone, suggested in this forum thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=76&topicid=133468 (which I reference in an earlier post in this thread), that I try and contact Telecom about this.

Maybe you need to do a bit more "googling" yourself before making your statements ;-)

westy_nz

53 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#920830 24-Oct-2013 09:39

Hopefully you've not called Telecom yet, and berated a poor staffer that likely won't know what to do.

Also, I would not "berate" anybody who is trying to help me. But getting through the first few levels of a help desk is always a bit of a mission when you are a techie and have some idea about what you are talking about.

JamesHancox

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#920856 24-Oct-2013 10:28

westy_nz:
JamesHancox: The iMessage thing is not a carrier issue. If it were, then mine wouldn't be working either. Likely everyone would be. But the bug seemed to only affect some, and not others, regardless of network.

Hopefully you've not called Telecom yet, and berated a poor staffer that likely won't know what to do.

Your issue is with Apples product. Highly recommend you ask them for assistance.

PS I had the same issue prior to the update. Fixed it by resetting my network settings. There is a step-by-step appearing as one of the first few results of a Google search. Since the update I've not had further issues. I am with Telecom btw.

Yes I have tried the reset network settings suggested fix many times and the many other "tips tricks". I know how to use Google to search. I have spent quite a bit of time investigating this and trying all the tricks. I knew 7.0.3 had fixes for iMessage activation and waited for it to come out but it has not helped me.

To be clear, yesterday after trying all the tricks, I completely re-installed 7.0.3. I did not restore from a backup. I set the phone up as a new iPhone. The problem still exists.

I only started to post on Geekzone after trying every avenue I know to fix the issue; I don't want to waste peoples time.

My understanding of iMessage on an iPhone (I could be wrong) is that there is a txt message exchange under the hood that validates the phone number. Therefore there is a carrier involvement. Also, iMessage works on my iPad (WiFi model) using the email addresses associated with my Apple ID. Johnr, a systems engineer from Vodafone, suggested in this forum thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=76&topicid=133468 (which I reference in an earlier post in this thread), that I try and contact Telecom about this.

Maybe you need to do a bit more "googling" yourself before making your statements ;-)

Wow. Someone clearly skipped breakfast this morning.

Here's the evidence:
1) Some, but not others, on same network, not having an issue at all
2) People across multiple networks having the issue, so clearly not carrier specific, nor network specific (You're link above shows someone on 2Deg having the issue also)
3) Some have not had the issue at all, even before the bug-fix update
4) For those that did have the issue, following the simple reset steps worked. It did for me, on Telecom, pre-bug-fix
5) For those where the simple fix didn't work, the bug-fix update has
6) If it were a carrier issue, Apple would have notified carriers of this. It's been talked about quite a bit, and carriers get the updates to test.

What we don't know:
1) Phone version, and whether this affects on certain models (You haven't said what you have I don't think. Mine is a 5)
2) Whether this is human error... After the update, you're asked to enter your phone number for activation... Did you ensure you had NZ selected, and entered your number as "02xxx" or "2xxx" dropping the "0"? I entered my full number, btw, and it activated and is working great.
3) Are you having local network issues wifi?
4) Are your carrier settings correct, and using the right APN etc?
5) If the system is reliant on txt messaging to a carrier in order to activate/work... Then why is my Wifi only iPad working fine?

You can be as cliche/boring as you like with your "maybe you should to do a bit more Googling", and "I'm technical, so let me passed the 1st level support please", statements... But I was just offering some thoughts/perspective hoping you wouldn't need to waste time and energy heading down the wrong path. That's, I thought, the whole point of Geekzone, after all.

westy_nz

53 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#920881 24-Oct-2013 11:06

Wow. Someone clearly skipped breakfast this morning.

Nope, manged to fit it in.

Here's the evidence:
1) Some, but not others, on same network, not having an issue at all
2) People across multiple networks having the issue, so clearly not carrier specific, nor network specific (You're link above shows someone on 2Deg having the issue also)
3) Some have not had the issue at all, even before the bug-fix update
4) For those that did have the issue, following the simple reset steps worked. It did for me, on Telecom, pre-bug-fix
5) For those where the simple fix didn't work, the bug-fix update has
6) If it were a carrier issue, Apple would have notified carriers of this. It's been talked about quite a bit, and carriers get the updates to test.

1. Yep, agree
2. Maybe. but still might be a carrier issue
3. Agree. Thats the way with software
4. Agree. In fact I used that to fix a friends iPhone 5 which had the same issue
5. Maybe. let's wait and see over the next few days
6. Maybe, the problem might be specific to me only and something associated with my setup at the carrier

What we don't know:
1) Phone version, and whether this affects on certain models (You haven't said what you have I don't think. Mine is a 5)
2) Whether this is human error... After the update, you're asked to enter your phone number for activation... Did you ensure you had NZ selected, and entered your number as "02xxx" or "2xxx" dropping the "0"? I entered my full number, btw, and it activated and is working great.
3) Are you having local network issues wifi?
4) Are your carrier settings correct, and using the right APN etc?
5) If the system is reliant on txt messaging to a carrier in order to activate/work... Then why is my Wifi only iPad working fine?

1 Mine is an iPhone 4.
2. Totally agree it could be my fault. I have checked and re-checked everything. In 7.0.3 there is a new setup section you go through that asks if you want to enable iMessage. I went through this. I always put my numbers in in international format +6421 etc) to ensure this is not an issue. Also, iMessage was working fine for me on iOS6 so it could just be my phone. But I want to follow every avenue of problem determination
3. None. All working on both home and work networks. Apart from iMessage
4. Yep, checked them and was offered an update to my TNZ carrier settings when I re-set up the iPhone which I accepted. However I'll re-check that again. Good point
5. I believe this is for mobile numbers only. iMessage allows you to be contacted across all your iDevices using your mobile numbers or an email address associated with your Apple ID. Again this is only my understanding from hat I've read

You can be as cliche/boring as you like with your "maybe you should to do a bit more Googling", and "I'm technical, so let me passed the 1st level support please", statements... But I was just offering some thoughts/perspective hoping you wouldn't need to waste time and energy heading down the wrong path. That's, I thought, the whole point of Geekzone, after all.

Yep you right. It's what GZ is for. But I had already put quite a bit of info covering some of your points in my earlier posts. Didn't mean to come across that way.

Anyway, it's a "first world problem". I'll live without it ;-)

trig42

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#920913 24-Oct-2013 11:31

What you say above is true, but I have seen iMessage issues a few times (on other peoples phones). All of those people were on Telecom. (about 5 people). I know other with iPhones on Voda/2D and they haven't had iMessage issues.

Could be a fluke, but it is a pretty decent coincidence in my small sample.

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WH0A

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Master Geek
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#920923 24-Oct-2013 11:58

I have had the same issue with an iPhone 5 on the Telecom network. Not blaming Telecom at all, but I'm suspicious that the problem started when I was overseas last couple of weeks and I could not activate after having to do a Network Settings reset. Now, back in NZ, I still can't. Maybe the telco component is somehow in the mix there somewhere, not sure.

Just like westy_nz I have done all the resets and even wiped and started from scratch.

Telecom Help Desk tried hard to help but couldn't suggest anything after checking a few things.

In desperation I'm now going to leave iMessage and FaceTime off for 24 hours or so to see if that resets anything with Apple.

A real pain ... thanks for nothing Apple.

westy_nz

53 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#920939 24-Oct-2013 12:23

WH0A: I have had the same issue with an iPhone 5 on the Telecom network. Not blaming Telecom at all, but I'm suspicious that the problem started when I was overseas last couple of weeks and I could not activate after having to do a Network Settings reset. Now, back in NZ, I still can't. Maybe the telco component is somehow in the mix there somewhere, not sure.

Just like westy_nz I have done all the resets and even wiped and started from scratch.

Telecom Help Desk tried hard to help but couldn't suggest anything after checking a few things.

In desperation I'm now going to leave iMessage and FaceTime off for 24 hours or so to see if that resets anything with Apple.

A real pain ... thanks for nothing Apple.

Thanks for the update. FYI I have left iMessage and Facetime off for over 2 days to see if that cured it. It didn't. But it might work for you.

Kickass

292 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#920971 24-Oct-2013 13:05

WH0A: I have had the same issue with an iPhone 5 on the Telecom network. Not blaming Telecom at all, but I'm suspicious that the problem started when I was overseas last couple of weeks and I could not activate after having to do a Network Settings reset. Now, back in NZ, I still can't. Maybe the telco component is somehow in the mix there somewhere, not sure.

Just like westy_nz I have done all the resets and even wiped and started from scratch.

Telecom Help Desk tried hard to help but couldn't suggest anything after checking a few things.

In desperation I'm now going to leave iMessage and FaceTime off for 24 hours or so to see if that resets anything with Apple.

A real pain ... thanks for nothing Apple.

Same here - i was overseas , came back with a new iphone 5S - restored 2-3 times , even put my sim in a old iphone 5 and been trying to activate with no restore and still no success.

I really feel like its a carrier issue here but i know if i call telecom - the person at the other end won't know what to do.

surfisup1000

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#920985 24-Oct-2013 13:31

Kickass:
I really feel like its a carrier issue here but i know if i call telecom - the person at the other end won't know what to do.

I'm now quite certain it is a carrier issue. Many people here have followed all of the steps to fix imessage without luck.

How many of you having problems, are on a number ported to telecom?

eg, I am on an 021 number, ported to telecom.

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