Apple iPhone FaceTime Activation on Telkom Mobile

[Rick@Harties]

Please help. Just ported three MTN numbers to Telkom. Some struggles but now working. Except we've lost Apple FaceTime/iMessage facility now on all three iPhones (2 5s and 1 5). Hitting the FaceTime activation gets it trying but never actually connecting. It would seem to be a Telkom setting problem. Several visits to the Telkom Store have not solved it. Anybody knows what to do?

 

[sajunky]

Receiving international SMS's (especially on ported numbers) is a problem.
Apple sends activation SMS to your device, but it never arives. It was documented in Telkom FAQ.

Solution: activate by iTunes with Internet connection and phone attached to PC.

 

[Rick@Harties]

Thanks very much for your Input. I looked through the Telkom FAQ and came across mention that this was a Problem with Telkom not being able to receive International SMS from countries other than on the attached list. The list is long but includes the US, so why should the SMS not get to me? Could Apple be sending out of a country not on the list? I tried doing what you suggested but still not Activated after a couple of hours, should I wait longer? Just in case I got it wrong could you just help me understand what is required. You said,'activate by iTunes', I connected my iPhone to the Mac and then Activated on the iPhone after I had switched iMessage and FaceTime off before and restarted. A little confused with your instruction, 'Activate by iTunes', should I have done something different? If so how would I active 'by iTunes'? Thanks again, Rick

 

[sajunky]

I can't tell you why is not activated, but it is how my iPhone was activated and downloaded carrier update in the background (I noticed it later). Specific activation for FaceTime might be different. iTunes might need sync with device to complete activation.

 

[Rick@Harties]

Problem solved but not by Telkom. By chance discovered that the Telkom Smartsave 100 Contracts do not include any SMS, really don't understand their Marketing leaving SMS out of a Contract. However once I worked that out and 'Bought' SMSs my iPhones duly sent out the SMS to activate iMessage and FaceTime to Apple.
Shame really that the Telkom Shop staff did not think of that when I signed for the Contracts.