Using an all US Apple ID in NZ

OK so this post started as a “how to” on how to best setup all your iOS devices with ONE Apple ID in NZ, and still get access to all the goodness of the US app store. But before I even get started I fear this will turn into a rant about how stupid this situation is. Just wait, you will see.

Firstly, I have 2 Apple IDs.

A NZ App store Apple ID, registered to my NZ Visa. This lets me access a subset of music, video and apps on the App Store. There is some NZ only content that I can only access with this ID, but that is by far the minority.

A US App store Apple ID, setup to use vouchers that I buy when in the US. This lets me buy and rent ANYTHING from the US iTunes stores.

And so when I buy apps, I use my NZ ID as this is linked to my credit card, and I can buy freely without having to worry about how much credit I have on my iTunes account, and if I am going to run out of credit before I next go back to the US.

(wait for it)

When I rent movies and TV shows, I have to sign out and sign in to my US account and use this, because in NZ we haven’t been graced the privilege to PAY the media co’s our precious money to WATCH THIER STUFF. I knew it would get ranty. I will try and hold this in for a bit, so I can first actually give you my solution. Then we can talk about HOW STUPID THIS ALL IS.

So I have been living with two Apple IDs for ages, and at home we have no less than 9 Apple devices, a mix of laptops, iPads, iPods, Apple TVs and iPhones. Yes I pay my Apple tax. But to get my iTunes music (mostly BOUGHT from iTunes, the rest ripped from CD) to be shared across all devices and on my wife’s devices and use all the other apple services that all need to be linked to an Apple ID, it became clear that switching Apple IDs constantly was no longer going to work. Why? Because:

• I FaceTime my kids and wife. So I need to link my FaceTime to an Apple ID.
• I buy stuff on the app store
• I buy music and video on iTunes
• I subscribe to iTunes Match to sync all my stuff to my Apple TV and my Wife’s devices, so we don’t have to buy the same albums twice
• I use iMessage
• I use Home Sharing
• I sync my iPhone wirelessly
• And all the other things I am going to do with my Apple ID in the near future.

Managing all these services across multiple IDs is a NIGHTMARE.

So here is what I did.
NOTE: this will only work in NZ. If you are trying to do a similar thing in another market you will need to swap our the step on linking a credit card for a voucher as described here.

1. First, register as an Air NZ Airpoints customer. It’s a pain, and probably costs you money, so only really both with this whole thing if you fly Air NZ and want the air points.
   https://www.onesmart.co.nz/ or http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/joinairpoints
   You will get a OneSmart card posted to you that is a credit card that can store multiple wallets in different currencies. If you are already an Airpoints customer, you will have been posted one of these already just before Christmas if you didn’t throw it in the trash.
   It is actually a smart little card, and if I could link it to my BNZ EFTPOS chequing account it would be infinitely better reducing the cards in my wallet to two. My OneSmart and my drivers license.
   You are welcome Air New Zealand.
2. Next link your OneSmart card to your internet banking and transfer some money onto it. The instructions are on the OneSmart site. It’s really easy.
3. Then convert that cash you just transferred into a US wallet when it clears. Follow your nose on the AirNZ OneSmart site.
4. Then create a US Apple ID (you can do this in any of the Apple App Stores or on iTunes), load your OneSmart card number as your credit card. It is a MasterCard!
   NOTE: You will need to wait until the money you have transferred to the US wallet clears, as Apple with try to do an auth of $1 on the card to make sure it is valid and has money on it.
5. You will need to pick a US address also. Just make one up or look up a hotel in your favorite us CIty. I have an office in San Francisco, and I practically live there so I used that.
6. Once you have created your new Apple ID, change all your devices to use it. So the app stores, iTunes, Home Sharing, the lot. Much simpler.
7. Start buying stuff on iTunes and the App Store. All your apps, music and video magically syncs across all your devices. Heavenly. You US wallet will be debited.

Thats it. You will need to keep your OneSmart US wallet topped up regularly, and there is a $1 fee each time, plus the currency conversion is not the greatest but OK. Remember that the currency conversion happens when you transfer money to the US wallet, not as you spend it, so if there is a favorable exchange rate, load up the card! So not as convenient as using your NZ credit card to BUY STUFF. But almost as good.

If you have a whole lot of purchases on your old NZ Apple ID, there is no way you can transfer these to the US ID or to merge two Apple IDs. So for any app updates, you will need to switch over to the NZ Apple ID to do this on the App Store. Still a pain, but I can live with this.

And so finally, why the HELL do I have to do this, probably breaking copyright law to illegally purchase software, music and video along the way? This is just plane crazy, and it shouldn’t be this hard to give money to people.

CRAZY!

Taking a deep breath… perhaps I can download a movie to calm me down… and I will give some more money to THOSE MUPPETS IN HOLLYWOOD! Not the Jim Henson-Disney kind either.