How do I set up multiple iMessage emails with one Apple ID?

Question

How do I set up multiple iMessage emails with one Apple ID?

We have one Apple ID and many family members with iPads, iPhones etc... As it stands we all receive all incoming imessages and this is impracticle moving forward.

Other than setting up multiple Apple ID's how do we set up each user with an individual iMessage address?

I understand how to do this using a phone numbers but cannot stop all users getting imessages sent to the Apple ID email address. I have tried inputting secondary email addresses but get error messages advising "account already in use".

Long story short.....Can I set up all family devices on the one apple ID but designate each member with an individual email address that precludes them from receiving iMessages sent to the "master" Apple ID address?

Phew

Thanks

iPhone 4, iOS 5

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 7:54 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 7, 2011 7:29 AM in response to Placid-oh-flamingo

...... I am beginning to think I ask the impossible.... Hello, anyone out there?

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Answer 2

Nov 7, 2011 7:43 AM in response to Placid-oh-flamingo

To my knowledge, yes, this is impossible. Your primary iMessage account is your AppleID account, so as long as you all share the one AppleID, then all messages will appear on all iOS 5 devices using that AppleID for their iMessage account.

The only thing to do is have people set up their own iMessage ID. They can stil then set up unique "receive at" addresses, but these are really additional addresses for messages to go to, and do not get around the fact that the account itself is defined by the AppleID.

P.S. there is nothing stopping you from using the one, common AppleID for the iTunes and app store, then setting up a new one and just using that for iMessage.

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