Buy mobileme...activate MUCH later?

[iMusicalMommy]

I want to take advantage of the discount on mobileme as I am buying a mac anyways. With all the growing pains, I want to buy the mobileme box now and activate much later when all the problems are ironed out? Maybe Christmas, at this rate!!

Can I buy now and activate much later? Is there a time limit for me to activate?

Also, in the interim I want to do the trial (mainly to learn my way around and get my webpages set up.) If my trial elapses in 60 days, how many days do I get before I have to key in the code to start my subscription. Do I risk losing my initial trial account by doing this?

 

[aaquib]

There's no time limit. You can still use a .mac box from 05 and have it activated perfectly with Mobile me.

 

[iMusicalMommy]

Thank you for answering my question.

Would someone respond to the second part of my question?

Thanks so much!

If my trial elapses in 60 days, how many days do I get before I have to key in the code to start my subscription. Do I risk losing my initial trial account by doing this?

 

[aaquib]

Thank you for answering my question.

Would someone respond to the second part of my question?

Thanks so much!

If my trial elapses in 60 days, how many days do I get before I have to key in the code to start my subscription. Do I risk losing my initial trial account by doing this?

I created a .Mac account last year and it was never activated, but I can still log into iChat and it even switched to mobile me. I don't know if there's a limit, but if there is, I have yet to reach it.

 

[d21mike]

Thank you for answering my question.

Would someone respond to the second part of my question?

Thanks so much!

If my trial elapses in 60 days, how many days do I get before I have to key in the code to start my subscription. Do I risk losing my initial trial account by doing this?

I believe it is 0. When you start your trial you have to give a Credit Card. At the end of your trial the credit card will be charged the $99 unless you either enter you KEY or you cancel the Trial. I would not wait until the very last day.

I am currently on trial with 2 accounts (1 for my wife and 1 fore me). If I do not activate my Family Account before the end of the trial I would be paying $99 x 2. My plan is to buy the Family Pack from either Amazon or NewEgg (big discounts).

 

[swiftaw]

I created a .Mac account last year and it was never activated, but I can still log into iChat and it even switched to mobile me. I don't know if there's a limit, but if there is, I have yet to reach it.

You're a little confused here. Your iChat login will remain forever, it is separate from your .Mac account.

 

[iMusicalMommy]

If you switch from 2 separate trial accounts to 1 family account, I think you have to give up 1 of your accounts and thus lose whatever email/username you gave it.

Thanks for the help.

 

[d21mike]

If you switch from 2 separate trial accounts to 1 family account, I think you have to give up 1 of your accounts and thus lose whatever email/username you gave it.

Thanks for the help.

Best on the following (Apple Support):

(Note: I will convert my trial to a Primary Family Pack Account First - then convert my wife's trial account to a Sub-Account)

MobileMe Account Help: Converting someone’s account to a Family Member account

If you have a Family Pack account (or plan to purchase one), you can convert someone’s individual, email-only, or even an expired account to be one of your Family Member accounts. After the account is converted, all files (including email) associated with the original account are accessible from the new sub-account.

To convert an account, you need the MobileMe member name and password for the account.

Notice: MobileMe no longer offers email-only accounts. However, account holders who have email-only accounts can continue to use, renew, or convert them to Family Member accounts using the instructions below.

 

[BLACK MAC]

Best on the following (Apple Support):

(Note: I will convert my trial to a Primary Family Pack Account First - then convert my wife's trial account to a Sub-Account)

MobileMe Account Help: Converting someone’s account to a Family Member account

If you have a Family Pack account (or plan to purchase one), you can convert someone’s individual, email-only, or even an expired account to be one of your Family Member accounts. After the account is converted, all files (including email) associated with the original account are accessible from the new sub-account.

To convert an account, you need the MobileMe member name and password for the account.

Notice: MobileMe no longer offers email-only accounts. However, account holders who have email-only accounts can continue to use, renew, or convert them to Family Member accounts using the instructions below.

I spoke with MobileMe support and they said any account created under the trail is not eligible to be sub-account under the family plan. The reason why is because all accounts created under trail are main accounts and can't be recreated under sub-account. Can anyone confirm this by trying it?

 

[Apple Ink]

AFAIK.... you need to use the activation code from the box within 9 months from purchase!

 

[d21mike]

I spoke with MobileMe support and they said any account created under the trail is not eligible to be sub-account under the family plan. The reason why is because all accounts created under trail are main accounts and can't be recreated under sub-account. Can anyone confirm this by trying it?

"created under trail are main accounts"

This is pretty confusing. I thought ALL accounts that are not a Sub-Accounts are Main Accounts.

From my prior email:

>> If you have a Family Pack account (or plan to purchase one), you can convert someone’s individual, email-only, or even an expired account to be one of your Family Member accounts. After the account is converted, all files (including email) associated with the original account are accessible from the new sub-account. <<

I would assume a Main Account is the same as an Individual Account. Right?

So, if support is correct then what they are saying is that you can't convert a "trial account" to a sub-account. However, my prior email says you can convert an expired account. Would a cancelled trial account become an expired account? If so, could you then convert it to a trial account.

Or, does Apple require you to purchase a trial account making it an individual account then convert it to a sub-account?

Why would they make this so complicated?

 

[BLACK MAC]

"created under trail are main accounts"

This is pretty confusing. I thought ALL accounts that are not a Sub-Accounts are Main Accounts.

From my prior email:

>> If you have a Family Pack account (or plan to purchase one), you can convert someone’s individual, email-only, or even an expired account to be one of your Family Member accounts. After the account is converted, all files (including email) associated with the original account are accessible from the new sub-account. <<

I would assume a Main Account is the same as an Individual Account. Right?

So, if support is correct then what they are saying is that you can't convert a "trial account" to a sub-account. However, my prior email says you can convert an expired account. Would a cancelled trial account become an expired account? If so, could you then convert it to a trial account.

Or, does Apple require you to purchase a trial account making it an individual account then convert it to a sub-account?

Why would they make this so complicated?

this morning I did speak with support on this matter. He told me that you would be able to use a previous expired mobileme login as long as your the owner of the login & password. However at this time, there is a bug with the MobileMe family plan that doesn't let you do that. They are working on it and hopefully it will be resolved soon.