Apple's iTunes Store goes down causing problems with iPhone Activation & iPhone Firmware 2.0 updates

In case you are getting the following error "Cannot connect to iTunes Store. Please try again later (-9838)" every time you connect to the iTunes store like iPhone Hacks readers, Jay and Jon have reported, then you are not alone.

Apple seems to have unfortunately run into problems thanks to the insane demand for their new iPhone 3G.

Update:

If you are one of those unlucky ones who got an error message while activating your iPhone (or just upgrading to 2.0 software) then check out the post below:

How to fix your iPhone 3G or iPhone which has been iBricked due to Activation Errors

It appears that it has taken down the entire iTunes store including Apple's activation servers which are required to activate the new iPhone 3Gs. In fact it is being reported that that customers are either being turned away or sent home from both Apple and AT&T stores to activate at home using iTunes.

In fact, it seems to be affecting iPhone firmware updates as well, as iPhone and iPod Touch owners are getting the following error when you click on the "Update" button while trying to update to iPhone firmware 2.0:

"We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

Here is the official word from AT&T on the issue:

"We have had reports that customers attempting to download new iTunes 7.7 software to their new iPhone may get an error message saying "page not found." We have reported this issue to Apple. While Apple works to resolve this issue, we are asking customers to sync their newly activated phone later at home."

Here is what one of the campers from Atlanta reported:

"A 'teal shirt' apple representative came out to let us know they are having difficulty accessing accounts on the iTunes system. The line has been amazingly slow, but at least we are inside! In the last maybe 30 minutes only 5 people got into the store. Time to get comfy."

Apple's iTunes store is down

TUAW is reporting that folks in UK are also facing problems:

"O2, that's the UK wireless company that has the iPhone, uses an activation system that only works with IE. Apple had to install Fusion on the Macs in the UK Apple Stores in order to activate iPhones on the spot, and it seems that the system isn't working as smoothly as many would like."

If you hear the good news don't forget to drop in a line in the comments or in case you are outside an Apple or AT&T store do let us know if you get any update.

We will keep you posted if the situation improves and iTunes Store is back up. Thanks Louis, Jay and Jon for the tip!

If you are wondering what to do until that time, you might want to check out the marathon of posts since yesterday all related to the launch of iPhone 3G and release of iPhone firmware 2.0:

• Apple's new iPhone 3G Disassembled; reveals Battery User-Replaceable (kind of)
• iPhone Tip: Take screenshots with iPhone Firmware 2.0's Built-in Screen Capture
• iPhone Firmware 2.0 Hacked, Jailbroken and Unlocked by the iPhone Dev Team
• Apple's iPhone Remote for iTunes - First Official Native iPhone App reviewed
• iPhone Firmware 2.0 Released
• iTunes 7.7 for Mac and Windows is now available

Update:

If you are one of those unlucky ones who got an error message while activating your iPhone (or just upgrading to 2.0 software) then check out this post:

How to fix your iPhone 3G or iPhone which has been iBricked due to Activation Errors

[via Gizmodo]

 

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