So I'm getting my girl an iPhone for Christmas as her Palm phone she's had for years contract is coming up for expiration. Can I go to a store and simply buy the phone so I can wrap and put it under the tree (hence, I'm not going to activate it), so are they going to make me activate the phone first. Obviously the phone (and bill) will be in her name, I just want to simply buy the phone and let her activate it on Christmas day.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Getting my girlfriend an iPhone
- Thread starter Razeus
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Order it from the Apple Store online. Shipping's free. You'll need the proper info to make changes to your g/f's account though.
Pick your plan, choose your phone and place your order. The change won't take place until the iPhone is received and activated in iTunes.
Pick your plan, choose your phone and place your order. The change won't take place until the iPhone is received and activated in iTunes.
Well you have to make sure you talk to her about this because to be blunt she might like her contract with sprint or does not want to pay the higher cost of AT&T bills.
Yes, its kinda hard to open an account on her name and pick account features and all without her knowing. Maybe try the gift card instead so she can go and get the iphone herself from Apple.
I should mention she already has AT&T service. Since she was lots of minutes and no data, she would actually pay less per month
giving her a gift card on Christmas is unacceptable
If she is already on AT&T what you could do is buy the phone, activate it in store, take out the sim and put the sim into her phone that she is currently using. Then on christmas stick the sim back in the iPhone after she opens it.
This will work, however, you will also need to notify AT&T of her old SIM id after (just easier after) you put it in the iPhone around Christmas. Otherwise, they will call, send letters and e-mails and txts saying you haven't signed up for a plan. They have been cleaning up their systems making sure users of the iphone have a SIM that has been setup for the data plan. Happened to my wife and I, pain in the ass, had to just call them and give them the codes.
that does not add up. Getting an iphone adds $30 a month in data cost no matter what you do.
As for getting her a phone you have to be authorized to change the account to keep her from be notified and modify the account.
Only other choice is you get the phone, activated it on a new number and then after christmas you go to AT&T and have it all transferred over to her with the number but doing it that way would be a huge mess. Plus about $36 activation fee plus at least $18 in account transfer fees and more than likely a few others.
It would probably be easiest to purchase her an iPhone gift card since you noted the account is in her name. That way she can simply order the iPhone online and pick it up in the store, or just go to her nearest Apple Store to purchase the iPhone and pick her voice/text plans.
Why? If someone gave me a gift card for an iPhone on Christmas I'd be thrilled--if I didn't already have one that is.
There's really no easy way to get a physical iPhone for her without either taking her to the store with you or opening the line on your own account. I guess you could spend a fortune and get one on ebay if you want.
Also, there's no way AT&T will let her have an iPhone without adding the mandatory data plan.
Or just tell her Im getting you an iphone for Christmass. Lets go get the process setup at the nearest AT&T or Apple store and then I'll give it to you on Christmass.
Not many other options besides that or a gift card.
Not many other options besides that or a gift card.
Agreed. It's not like buying an iPod or a Mac. They're going to need her signature when she picks her new plan features. So I don't see many options other than taking her with you to your local Apple Store or giving her an iPhone gift card.
Buying an iPhone at the subsidized price requires entering into a contract with AT&T for two years of phone service and a $30/mo data plan. You can't do that on your girlfriend's behalf any more than you can take out a car loan in her name and "give her" a car for Christmas.
It does add up. She has pays for a ridiculous amount of minutes, yet most people she knows has AT&T. She has unlimited text too. So her bill is around $120 a month. I can get her on the minimum phone minutes, unlimted text and data for $100. That's what I pay after taxes.
I guess I'm going to have to freakin' spoil the surprise and take her down to the AT&T store. It's just not the same to give her something for Christmas Day to watch her open it up. I'm don't like giving gift cards, but it looks like that's my only option. Thanks AT&T and Apple for making this PITA.
I just don't see why I can't just buy the phone and then let her activate it via iTunes later. It'll still be under her name and her information. Just want to make purchase of the hardware.
Because you can't legally commit your girlfriend to a two-year contract with AT&T. What's so hard to understand about that? It's not Apple or AT&T making things difficult, it's hundreds of years of common law.
You could always buy a phone at the unsubsidized rate of $500-700 (depending on model).
How am I committing her to a two-year contract?????
ALL I'M DOING IS BUYING THE PHONE.
She will commit herself to the contract when she activates the phone, via iTunes.
First, please don't shout. Secondly, the only way to buy an iPhone outright is to pay the unsubsidized price. You can't buy a subsidized iPhone without committing to the contract before purchase. If you buy online, you "electronically sign" the contract before check-out. If you buy in the store, you are required to sign the contract before you leave the store. This is not like the old days of the iPhone 2G when all iPhones were unsubsidized and you committed at activation.
Think about it. How could AT&T possibly let you walk out of the store with a no-strings $99 iPhone? You could then sell the phone on eBay for $600 and never pay them another dime, not even an ETF. Of course they have to have a 2-year commitment, either from you or from her, before they can let you have the phone for that price.
Thats what you dont understand, you cant do it the way you want/think.
You cant buy the phone at the subsidised priced of $199 or $299(32GB) without commiting to a contract FIRST.
It used to be the way you're saying where you paid full price for the iphone 2G and then activated thru itunes and agreed to a contract and picked your plan but it doesnt work that way any more.
If you want more details call up AT&T or Apple and explain them what you want to do. They'll tell you the same.
Unless you want to pay full price for the phone then you can get it without a contract.
You cant buy the phone at the subsidised priced of $199 or $299(32GB) without commiting to a contract FIRST.
It used to be the way you're saying where you paid full price for the iphone 2G and then activated thru itunes and agreed to a contract and picked your plan but it doesnt work that way any more.
If you want more details call up AT&T or Apple and explain them what you want to do. They'll tell you the same.
Unless you want to pay full price for the phone then you can get it without a contract.
Actually if you can get your GF to add your name to her account as an authorized user, then you can buy a phone under her name for her. All you do is show the AT&T representative your ID and they will match that to the authorized users list on her account. Buy the phone and sign the contract.
Of course you'll probably ruin the surprise by asking her to add you as an authorized user. If that doesn't when you activate be sure to tell the representative that you want to use the old SIM card, so her old phone doesn't mysteriously disconnect because you activated a new SIM card.