Using my sister's upgrade?

Apple can usually do most of what AT&T can, but if you don't want to/can't really get to the AT&T store, just give 'em a call and ask them. Hopefully you won't be lied to about what they can do like I was.

 

You can do the basic Upgrade Swap at the Apple store. Are your the Account Holder or is your sister?

The way Apple would process the purchase is to put it on your sister's line and then you could take it home to complete the activation. This would activate the new Micro-SIM on your sister's line and then you would just swap Micro-SIMs and restore your backup. Put her new Micro-SIM in your iPhone 4 and restore her backup if she has an iPhone or set it up as a new phone if this is her first iPhone.

If you activate it at the Apple store the activation step will kill (deactivate) your sister's current SIM, so use caution or tell her first. Also, if she does not currently have an iPhone, her voicemail will be reset and she will lose any saved or new voicemail messages.

Dave

 

I have to go through this every year with the latest iPhone since I have a family account with three lines and completely out-of-sync upgrade dates. I would strongly suggest you go to an AT&T Store to do the SIM card swap; it's AT&T's billing systems you'll be making changes to, and the AT&T staffers understand it a lot better than anyone at an Apple Store would. When I swapped SIMs on my 4 and 4S at AT&T last week, I was in and out in less than ten minutes.

Also, since you're both on separate accounts, I would stop in an AT&T Store before you become upgrade eligible (don't bother calling the 800 number, their only concern is getting you to hang up as fast as possible) and ask someone there if it'll be an issue. I doubt it will, since AT&T will still be getting a fresh new two-year contract out of someone regardless, but you might as well get it straight now rather than waiting for November and then having some weird issue pop up.

 

OK, is she listed as an Authorized User on your Grandparents account?

You should also call the Apple store in advance to see if they require the Account Holder to be present or if they will allow an Authorized User to update the account. At a minimum she will need the Accout Holder's name / last four digits of their SSN and billing Zipcode.

Basic process is still the same, activate the new iPhone 4S on her line and then just swap Micro-SIMs.

Also, is your sister over 18 or 21 depending on the state. This is to sign a new 2 year contract.

Dave

 

I'm actually in the process of doing the same thing right now. My brother and I are on the same family plan together and I used my brothers upgrade to order a 4S, which should be here by the end of the month. My thinking was to just to swap the SIM from my 4 into the 4S, and I should be good to go. Although it does seem a little too easy...

 

I just did this with a family member on a completely differnent account. It's easy if:

1. You're giving an iPhone 4 to the family member, and taking "their" 4S. (since they both use micro-SIMs)
2. You and the family member are in the same location at the same time of the swap


Here's the easy steps.

1. Activate the new iPhone4S right out of the box. This will immediately deactivate your relative's old phone and SIM. don't bother plugging into iTunes - just do the on-screen activation all the way through until the phone is able to accept calls under your relative's #.
2. Turn off the new phone, pop out the SIM
3. Do a full erase of your old iPhone 4 (make sure you're backed up first!)
4. Turn it off, pop out it's SIM
5. Swap SIMs into each phone, turn them on, plug into the appropriate computers with iTunes for each phone, or do an iCloud restore, if you're backed up there

It worked fine for me - no need to deal with a trip to an AT&T store and/or clueless salespeople.

Of course, if you're trying to swap with a phone without a micro-SIM, or you're not able to meet in person to do the swap, you'll have to invovle AT&T

 

Yes, currently a Reserve at the Apple store is the fastest way to get one in-stock.

No you don't need to go to AT&T to get a Micro-SIM for your sister. She will use the new Micro-SIM that comes pre-installed in the new iPhone 4S. Just activate it on her line and then switch the Micro-SIMs.

Put the new Micro-SIM from the iPhone 4S in your (her new) iPhone 4 and it will have her phone number. When you put your current Micro-SIM from your iPhone 4 into the new iPhone 4S it will have your number.

The phone number is tied to the SIM and not the iPhone. Move the SIM and the phone number moves with it.

Both of you can even do a restore of your current backup onto your "new" iPhones and keep your current setups.

Note: If you want to keep settings link WiFi passcodes and email passwords when you restore, you will need to make an addition backup of your current iPhones and chose to encrypt the backup. Remember the password and when you restore to the iPhone 4 / 4S, it will prompt you for the backup password. You can make this change in iTunes.

Dave