Require a Data Plan for an Old Blackberry?

[cheezerwheezer]

I have an old Blackberry Curve 8900 that I will be upgrading soon. It does not have a data plan because I bought it before it was required to have a data plan on AT&T.

I plan on giving my Blackberry Curve 8900 to a family member who does not need a data plan because that person does not use the internet as much and is surrounded by free Wi-Fi. We are under the same family plan. Will that family remember be required to have a data plan upon the switch?

[mikeyg164]

First off I am not an AT&T representative, but I would like to say that WIFI requires a data plan. I know this sounds crazy, but thats how it is. the way I understand it, if you use WIFI without a data plan, then you are subject to the pay per use data charges. When you connect to wifi, you are making a tunnel from your phone through your home wifi to RIM's (blackberry) server, and the data then flows through your wifi, however, you are required to have data in order to do that.

[Mister Xiado]

Absolutely correct.

Though there may be haxxed service books that will allow you to use TCP via WiFi without a data feature, the billing system WILL spot any AT&T branded BlackBerry phones and saddle them with a $25 data feature immediately.

[cheezerwheezer]

Aww that's too bad! Right now I am using Wi-Fi and do not have a data plan or any charges for it (and I'm assuming that is only because I bought a smartphone before the cut off date). I plan on getting a data plan with my upgrade, but my family member doesn't need it.

So I guess my old Blackberry is just doomed to be paperweight?

[Totalimmortal363]

Or just pay the $25...

[Mister Xiado]

Or $15 for 200MB, which is what I'm on. Works perfectly for web browsing, email, and Google Maps, and I use those services rather frequently.

Or use a T-Mobile BB. Or one directly from RIM. Or one from Rogers. Your possibilities are many.

[cavingjan]

Or swap phone lines.

[cheezerwheezer]

I suppose I could swap phone lines, but that's such a hassle.

My family member probably wouldn't use Wi-Fi at all. That's why I didn't want to pay for that data plan in addition to the one I will be paying for myself.

Thanks for the information and suggestions, though! I really appreciate it.