Can I upgrade iPhone using wife's upgrade option?

[pi6xjdskfa]

Hi,

Just wondering if this is allowed as my friend got a new iphone using an upgrade eligibility option from a family member.

My wife has iPhone 4 and is basically uses the phone for facebook, text messgaging and email. She is not into the whiz bang of the new phones. In fact, we've been asking her to upgrade her phone for several years since her upgrade eligibility was with the iPhone 5.

She's on a ATT family plan and I am on a separate ATT personal plan with my 5s that I got a year ago. Is there anyway to use her upgrade to get the iPhone 6 and then swap the SIM/service on my 5s for her iphone 6?

 

[darknyt]

Hi,

Just wondering if this is allowed as my friend got a new iphone using an upgrade eligibility option from a family member.

My wife has iPhone 4 and is basically uses the phone for facebook, text messgaging and email. She is not into the whiz bang of the new phones. In fact, we've been asking her to upgrade her phone for several years since her upgrade eligibility was with the iPhone 5.

She's on a ATT family plan and I am on a separate ATT personal plan with my 5s that I got a year ago. Is there anyway to use her upgrade to get the iPhone 6 and then swap the SIM/service on my 5s for her iphone 6?

I am doing something very similar. I am using my wife's upgrade on our family plan to get an iPhone 6+. I will then take it to my corporate plan. Basically I can alternate the upgrade between my personal plan and my corporate plan each year to get a new iPhone every year. I already confirmed with my corporate rep that it will work. Yours should be doable.

 

[phpmaven]

Hi,

Just wondering if this is allowed as my friend got a new iphone using an upgrade eligibility option from a family member.

My wife has iPhone 4 and is basically uses the phone for facebook, text messgaging and email. She is not into the whiz bang of the new phones. In fact, we've been asking her to upgrade her phone for several years since her upgrade eligibility was with the iPhone 5.

She's on a ATT family plan and I am on a separate ATT personal plan with my 5s that I got a year ago. Is there anyway to use her upgrade to get the iPhone 6 and then swap the SIM/service on my 5s for her iphone 6?

if you are on 2 different accounts, I doubt you can do it.

 

[spazma7ik]

Just know that if she has unlimited data she will lose it by using/giving the upgrade.

 

[N e e k]

I'm doing this with my grandpa on a family plan and actually asked the same question about 30 minutes ago but never got a response.

However, I'm on the same plan - you're not, I don't see yours working the same way.

I'm pre-ordering through his line to MY address. I'll get the phone, and plug it into iTunes, however activate it through MY line. I don't see how that won't work, considering I'm on the same plan.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

She does not have unlimited data. I think she has about 2 gb plan. I have unlimited since 2008. Is there a chance I can lose it?

What would the procedure be if I order the phone using her upgrade?

How will I activate it on my line and can it cause trouble with ATT if I switch to a new phone?

Thanks.

Just know that if she has unlimited data she will lose it by using/giving the upgrade.

 

[jkim3691]

She does not have unlimited data. I think she has about 2 gb plan. I have unlimited since 2008. Is there a chance I can lose it?

What would the procedure be if I order the phone using her upgrade?

How will I activate it on my line and can it cause trouble with ATT if I switch to a new phone?

Thanks.

You won't lose unlimited data. I did a swap with my dad 2 years ago for my iPhone 5 and I had unlimited. Still have it. 2 years ago I had to go into the store and have them make new SIM cards for both of us since his number was set into the SIM card the phone came with. I tried asking a customer service rep over chat today what the deal is nowadays but got a horrible explanation that did not tell me anything.

 

[N e e k]

She does not have unlimited data. I think she has about 2 gb plan. I have unlimited since 2008. Is there a chance I can lose it?

What would the procedure be if I order the phone using her upgrade?

How will I activate it on my line and can it cause trouble with ATT if I switch to a new phone?

Thanks.

If you're not on the same plan, I don't think it will work and you might have to call ATT. If you're on the same plan, I'm pretty sure you can order using her upgrade, and just activate the phone on your line through iTunes. I'm not even sure if you need to go to a store - since ordered phones aren't activated, they're inactive.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

Can you detail what happens after you order the phone and receive it?

What are the steps required to transfer my account to the new phone eg. activate it?

If the phone is linked to her will I be able to activate it using my number?

I remember when I received my 5s upgrade it seemed to know my phone number was linked to the 5s.

How will I then get her number activated on my old 5s?

Thanks.

I am doing something very similar. I am using my wife's upgrade on our family plan to get an iPhone 6+. I will then take it to my corporate plan. Basically I can alternate the upgrade between my personal plan and my corporate plan each year to get a new iPhone every year. I already confirmed with my corporate rep that it will work. Yours should be doable.

 

[joeblow7777]

Can you detail what happens after you order the phone and receive it?

What are the steps required to transfer my account to the new phone eg. activate it?

If the phone is linked to her will I be able to activate it using my number?

I remember when I received my 5s upgrade it seemed to know my phone number was linked to the 5s.

How will I then get her number activated on my old 5s?

Thanks.

I'm looking into doing something similar (swapping upgrades). Is transferring your number/account not as simple as just putting your current SIM card in the new phone?

 

[N e e k]

I'm looking into doing something similar (swapping upgrades). Is transferring your number/account not as simple as just putting your current SIM card in the new phone?

You don't transfer any number. When you order a new phone, it doesn't come activated. You have to call/plug your phone into iTunes to activate your phone.

So, instead of activating the phone to the phone that was ordered to (the one with the upgrade eligibility), just activate through your line.

 

[joeblow7777]

You don't transfer any number. When you order a new phone, it doesn't come activated. You have to call/plug your phone into iTunes to activate your phone.

So, instead of activating the phone to the phone that was ordered to (the one with the upgrade eligibility), just activate through your line.

That doesn't really make sense. iTunes does not activate a new phone. I know that you have to sync with iTunes (or iCloud) and "restore" your phone to get back all your content, but activating your phone with your own number happens through the SIM and your carrier, not Apple or iTunes.
I've done that before with a brand new SIM. I've never swapped phones by putting an already active SIM in a new phone, but that should work too, right?

 

[lordofthereef]

if you are on 2 different accounts, I doubt you can do it.

This is not accurate. I can buy a phone using an upgrade on my account and hand it to a perfect stranger. No issues whatsoever.

 

[N e e k]

That doesn't really make sense. iTunes does not activate a new phone. I know that you have to sync with iTunes (or iCloud) and "restore" your phone to get back all your content, but activating your phone with your own number happens through the SIM and your carrier, not Apple or iTunes.
I've done that before with a brand new SIM. I've never swapped phones by putting an already active SIM in a new phone, but that should work too, right?

It looks like this is through iTunes to me. Have you never done this?

 

[lordofthereef]

I'm looking into doing something similar (swapping upgrades). Is transferring your number/account not as simple as just putting your current SIM card in the new phone?

It is. That is the greatest benefit of GSM and SIM cards.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

So to clarify: you connect new 6+ to itunes and just enter your number for activation?

I kinda vaguely remember doing this with my 5s and was surprised the phone knew my number and it activated. Not sure what I did but if this is the case then I want to order 6+.

You don't transfer any number. When you order a new phone, it doesn't come activated. You have to call/plug your phone into iTunes to activate your phone.

So, instead of activating the phone to the phone that was ordered to (the one with the upgrade eligibility), just activate through your line.

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Her account is under her mom's family plan(4 members IIRC).

I am on a separate personal plan that isn't connected to theirs.

Can anyone confirm if this will be an issue as I do not want to shell out $500 or so for an upgrade that won't work.

If you're not on the same plan, I don't think it will work and you might have to call ATT. If you're on the same plan, I'm pretty sure you can order using her upgrade, and just activate the phone on your line through iTunes. I'm not even sure if you need to go to a store - since ordered phones aren't activated, they're inactive.

 

[bmac4]

That doesn't really make sense. iTunes does not activate a new phone. I know that you have to sync with iTunes (or iCloud) and "restore" your phone to get back all your content, but activating your phone with your own number happens through the SIM and your carrier, not Apple or iTunes.
I've done that before with a brand new SIM. I've never swapped phones by putting an already active SIM in a new phone, but that should work too, right?

So I was thinking of using an upgrade from another line, and just putting my sim that is in my 5s in the new phone. I have done this with several android phones before, so would this not work for the iPhone too?

 

[N e e k]

So to clarify: you connect new 6+ to itunes and just enter your number for activation?

I kinda vaguely remember doing this with my 5s and was surprised the phone knew my number and it activated. Not sure what I did but if this is the case then I want to order 6+.

You type in your phone number and last 4 digits of pin number when activating if I remember correctly - that's how it is with Sprint at least.

 

[joeblow7777]

It looks like this is through iTunes to me. Have you never done this?

Image

No, I activated my 5s through my carrier's website while logged into my account.

 

[lordofthereef]

So to clarify: you connect new 6+ to itunes and just enter your number for activation?

You no longer need iTunes for activation. Just pop your sim in and you are good to go. It's not a BAD idea to call or chat with AT&T so they can add the new phone to your line immediately. This will eventually happen when the system refreshes, but it could take hours, days, rarely weeks, perhaps. Nthing will happen if you don't do that though.

 

[joeblow7777]

So I was thinking of using an upgrade from another line, and just putting my sim that is in my 5s in the new phone. I have done this with several android phones before, so would this not work for the iPhone too?

I want to know this as well. My understanding is yes it will, but I would also like confirmation.

 

[bmac4]

I want to know this as well. My understanding is yes it will, but I would also like confirmation.

Yeah I don't see why not. When I bought my iPhone 5s I just got the new nano sim and we put it in. No need for iTunes or any activation.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

I was concerned about the sim when I upgraded from 4s to 5s but I didn't need one. IIRC I just activated through the phone. I might be wrong but I don't remember activating through itunes.

Yeah I don't see why not. When I bought my iPhone 5s I just got the new nano sim and we put it in. No need for iTunes or any activation.

 

[bmac4]

I was concerned about the sim when I upgraded from 4s to 5s but I didn't need one. IIRC I just activated through the phone. I might be wrong but I don't remember activating through itunes.

Yeah that is what I remember too. Makes sense too.

 

[dasams]

Her account is under her mom's family plan(4 members IIRC). I am on a separate personal plan that isn't connected to theirs.

Dude get her off of mommy's account and go with a shared account. You get the new phone every year and she gets the hand me down. And yes, ATT has a link to transfer upgrade eligibility between the phones. But if you go with ATT Next, it's no longer an issue as both can get upgrades every twelve months (not that she'll want it)...