AT&T / iPhone question — what info does the bill payer have access to?

[kuwisdelu]

A friend of mine asked me a question, since I'm the local "Mac" expert, but I have neither an iPhone nor AT&T, so this isn't one I'd know about, and thought I'd ask here.

My friend's mother is getting her an iPhone, and paying the AT&T bill for her, and she wants to know what information the bill payer has access to?

For example, if you buy an iPhone for your kid (who is in college and lives in a different state), can you see their text messages, what apps they download, etc.? How much information about his or her iPhone activities can you access?

(Please no "get a job" replies — said friend does have a job and is with T-Mobile right now, but can't afford an iPhone's data plan, but obviously isn't going to say "no" to one.)

Thanks!

 

[coolbreeze]

Are you worried your employer can see the pr0n websites you visit on your company iPhone?

(...actually, can they...?)

 

[kuwisdelu]

Are you worried your employer can see the pr0n websites you visit on your company iPhone?

(...actually, can they...?)

I have no idea. I don't have an iPhone. Maybe when the Verizon one comes out...... eventually...

 

[rjohnstone]

The account holder can see numbers dialed and call duration.
They can see who you send or receive text messages from and can request a transcript of those messages for a fee.
They can see how much data you use, but not what sites you visited.
I hear that the info is available, but don't know how one goes about requesting it.
They cannot tell what apps you downloaded unless you're sharing an iTunes account with them.

 

[kuwisdelu]

The account holder can see numbers dialed and call duration.
They can see who you send or receive text messages from and can request a transcript of those messages for a fee.
They can see how much data you use, but not what sites you visited.
I hear that the info is available, but don't know how one goes about requesting it.
They cannot tell what apps you downloaded unless you're sharing an iTunes account with them.

Thanks.

 

[Middiebear]

can request a transcript of those messages for a fee.

You're not going to get that information from AT&T...

 

[rjohnstone]

You're not going to get that information from AT&T...

Get an attorney... AT&T will hand them over... for a fee.
They are required by law to retain them. Not certain for how long, but they do have them.

 

[webbuzz]

Get an attorney... AT&T will hand them over... for a fee.
They are required by law to retain them. Not certain for how long, but they do have them.

The Attorney would have to get a court to issue a subpoena first...

 

[rjohnstone]

The Attorney would have to get a court to issue a subpoena first...

Not hard.
My brother-in-law got his butt handed to him by his now ex-wife.
She had her attorney get a subpoena for the text messages from their Verizon account.
Let's just say that he was very accommodating in the divorce settlement.