2 AT&T contracts?

[MaxRabbit]

I currently am on a family plan with AT&T. I am not the head of the account. I was wondering if I could purchase a new iPhone with the 2-year agreement, and not change anything about the other account. In other words, get the new iPhone with the contract, but also keep the other phone with the other number, and not affect the family plan at all.

 

[jmann]

On your own account or on the existing account? Be prepared if they ask for a deposit. How many lines are on the family plan?

 

[Lakerfan210]

Yes you can!!!! It will only affect the line you're upgrading.

 

[alphaod]

Yeah you can have a family plan and an individual plan on the same bill.

 

[MaxRabbit]

On your own account or on the existing account? Be prepared if they ask for a deposit. How many lines are on the family plan?

There are 3 lines on the family plan. They all are listed under my wife's name, as she is the account holder. I want to make the phone with a brand new account under my name.

Yes you can!!!! It will only affect the line you're upgrading.

If you are right, which I hope you are, then thank you for the confirmation! Can I get other people to confirm this? (Edit: Okay, another confirmation from alphaod. Things are looking good!!! Thank you, alphaod!)

Now, I did come up with another issue, too: when the phones under the family plan (which, again, is under my wife's name) become eligible for upgrades, will we still be able to upgrade all of them?

 

[CalBoy]

There are 3 lines on the family plan. They all are listed under my wife's name, as she is the account holder. I want to make the phone with a brand new account under my name.

This is very easily done. The only possible thing to watch out for is that only the account holder (your wife) or an authorized user (this isn't necessarily any member of the family) may make changes to the account(s). It's very easy for your wife to add you as an authorized user if you aren't one already (she just has to login online and there is a "my profile" tab. Scroll down to "Authorized User-Retalil Store")

Now, I did come up with another issue, too: when the phones under the family plan (which, again, is under my wife's name) become eligible for upgrades, will we still be able to upgrade all of them?

You can upgrade any line which qualifies at the time. For example, for our family plan all four lines became eligible recently but only I have upgraded so far. My line thus becomes eligible sooner than the rest of my family's because it was the first to be upgraded.

In essence you get a staggered schedule for your upgrades. If this concerns you then try to have all three lines upgraded around the same time. If it really doesn't make a difference to you, then no need to sweat it. Each line retains its own upgrade schedule depending on what was bought when.

 

[MaxRabbit]

This is very easily done. The only possible thing to watch out for is that only the account holder (your wife) or an authorized user (this isn't necessarily any member of the family) may make changes to the account(s). It's very easy for your wife to add you as an authorized user if you aren't one already (she just has to login online and there is a "my profile" tab. Scroll down to "Authorized User-Retalil Store")



You can upgrade any line which qualifies at the time. For example, for our family plan all four lines became eligible recently but only I have upgraded so far. My line thus becomes eligible sooner than the rest of my family's because it was the first to be upgraded.

In essence you get a staggered schedule for your upgrades. If this concerns you then try to have all three lines upgraded around the same time. If it really doesn't make a difference to you, then no need to sweat it. Each line retains its own upgrade schedule depending on what was bought when.

Thank you CalBoy for your detailed response! What you said makes perfect sense, too; I went ahead and made sure that only she can change our family plan.

Thanks again-looks like I'm going to AT&T to buy an iPhone today 😀

 

[CalBoy]

Thank you CalBoy for your detailed response! What you said makes perfect sense, too; I went ahead and made sure that only she can change our family plan.

Thanks again-looks like I'm going to AT&T to buy an iPhone today 😀

Just to be clear: if she is the account holder, the primary plan (the one whose minutes the three of you pool and, if applicable, whose text messages you share) will not change until she upgrades her line (in some cases the contract is simply renewed if ATT hasn't changed their plan rates).

If you get your iPhone today, the only thing that will change is that a $30 data fee will be added to your line.

In any case, congrats on getting yourself an iPhone. 🙂

 

[MaxRabbit]

If you get your iPhone today, the only thing that will change is that a $30 data fee will be added to your line.

Wait... I don't want to add or change anything with my family plan line though; I want to get a completely new line. Have 2 separate numbers, 2 separate lines. I want to make a new account in my name with just the new iPhone and plan. Is this making sense? And can I do it?

 

[abijnk]

Wait... I don't want to add or change anything with my family plan line though; I want to get a completely new line. Have 2 separate numbers, 2 separate lines. I want to make a new account in my name with just the new iPhone and plan. Is this making sense? And can I do it?

If you are wanting a separate account in your name then there will be no issue at all. They need not even know you use a line on your wife's plan. It would work just like any other new customer.

 

[CalBoy]

Wait... I don't want to add or change anything with my family plan line though; I want to get a completely new line. Have 2 separate numbers, 2 separate lines. I want to make a new account in my name with just the new iPhone and plan. Is this making sense? And can I do it?

Ahh, so you want to have an individual plan with just your iPhone. Yes that's perfectly doable, but why have two lines? Is there a particular reason you want this?

 

[MaxRabbit]

Thanks guys for your help! I'm going at ~4 to get my iPhone 🙂

Ahh, so you want to have an individual plan with just your iPhone. Yes that's perfectly doable, but why have two lines? Is there a particular reason you want this?

Hehe, yes there is a reason; my son gave so many of his friends my cell phone number that it basically became his phone. Since I've been wanting to buy an iPhone, I'm just gonna bite the bullet and give him that cell phone and get a new number for myself.

 

[CalBoy]

Thanks guys for your help! I'm going at ~4 to get my iPhone 🙂


Hehe, yes there is a reason; my son gave so many of his friends my cell phone number that it basically became his phone. Since I've been wanting to buy an iPhone, I'm just gonna bite the bullet and give him that cell phone and get a new number for myself.

Ahh, ok.

Well then remember that your wife will have to authorize the addition of a fourth line in order for you to get your iPhone. Otherwise it will be a very simple process. If you go to an Apple Store it usually takes about ten minutes total for the entire process to be completed. Be sure to take your old phone's SIM card so that you can transfer your contacts immediately.

Otherwise, enjoy. 🙂

 

[MaxRabbit]

Well, I live in the boonies so I'll be going to an AT&T store. Which does bring me a worry: even the most remote AT&T stores will have iPhones, won't they? I sure would hate to have to wait to get mine!

Edit: I called, and they had one left of what I wanted: white 16GB. They set it back for me 🙂

 

[MaxRabbit]

Woo! I got my new iPhone 3GS white last night! 😀😀😀