Running a bb on att without expensive data plans?

[austriker]

Howdy,

So I am looking at buying a blackberry bold (either 9700 or 9780; cant decide) and replacing my current HTC G1 (the first android phone!). And basically because it was branded for tmobile I do not have to pay for data and just use wifi. I dont need data 24/7 and free wifi is everywhere. Although I recently moved across the country and enabled unlimited data on my account for $10 (non-smartphone unlimited data on a family plan= super cheap!!.)

So my question is, if I get a unlocked 9780 or 9700 (ie from tmobile) will I be able to still 'beat the system' ?? Because if not, I will just buy an att branded bold. But I want to save the money if I can; I dont need data 24/7..

Thanks.

[sedalia066]

I believe under the rules of today you will be required to purchase a data plan from ATT if you use their network. Data is tiered with a low end of $15 per month. The system will recognize the phone and add a plan if you fail to do so yourself. And the big benefit is BIS which allows full BB functions. No BB data plan makes yhe device a bit limited.

[austriker]

so thats the thing; I am "beating the rules of today" right now with my android G1 device because att does not sell the G1 on their network so they dont know its a smartphone. I was wondering if anyone had discovered the same to be true with a blackberry from tmobile on att's network. And I have an app on my G1 which disables it from using mobile data.

What is BIS ? Is that for the BBM and push emails?

[blueyestm]

Doesn't matter the branding of the blackberry, if you put one on AT&T's network they will find out when they do sweeps and will add one to your plan. This has been in effect since last year. I'm actually surprised they haven't nailed your G1 yet.

BIS is for BBM and push emails but also AppWorld and some apps without not work without BIS either.

[cavingjan]

If the G1 was on the network prior to the September cutoff, you were grandfathered with that phone.

Food for thought: why do you want the BB? If it is to use email (non webmail variety), facebook, BBM, or most google applications; then you will need to get some form of BIS plan.

AT&T does have a 200 MB data plan that would work for you. I think it is $15/month. Unless you are tethering or streaming, that should be plenty of data. If you have access to WiFi all of the time, then you really shouldn't have much of a problem.

[austriker]

Well I guess I just won the lottery (so to speak) then with the G1 not getting caught.

Basically I am looking for a new phone because the G1 (being 3 years old) is quite laggy and slow. I also rooted (ie modded) and flashed a new rom (ie OS) onto it, but I hate doing this every few weeks/months. Its annoying, so I am looking for a new phone that just does solid communications. I dont use facebook, or any crazy apps or anything. Just email, text and phone dialing and some apps. Although it is very nice to have a free GPS nav app on my android (hear thats not really an option on BB). I want a physical keyboard and have always kinda liked blackberry's and the new 9900 looks wicked sick! So I considering either a 9700 or 9780 until that one comes out. Its between those two and a G2 which also has an awesome keyboard with impressive specs..

[CrackBerryBryan]

Not to be a party pooper but you're basically asking us how you can cheat your carrier. You've gotta pay to play, if you're not willing to do so then please purchase yourself a nice little flip phone and be done with it.

[pkcable]

i believe you guys have handled this for us.

[austriker]

Originally Posted by CrackBerryBryan

Not to be a party pooper but you're basically asking us how you can cheat your carrier. You've gotta pay to play, if you're not willing to do so then please purchase yourself a nice little flip phone and be done with it.

No reason to apologize; I understand what you are saying. But actually my intent is to avoid the stupid fees with which the carriers are unfairly throwing on us consumers (referring to not paying a data plan for my G1; I only got the data plan for safety as I moved across the country). I think there is absolutely no reason to require a consumer to pay money for data plan when one does not need it or want it. Just because my phone is labeled smartphone does not mean I want to pay data charges.

Haha I like how you changed what you called yourself from a certain name to party pooper..

[CrackBerryBryan]

Originally Posted by austriker

No reason to apologize; I understand what you are saying. But actually my intent is to avoid the stupid fees with which the carriers are unfairly throwing on us consumers (referring to not paying a data plan for my G1; I only got the data plan for safety as I moved across the country). I think there is absolutely no reason to require a consumer to pay money for data plan when one does not need it or want it. Just because my phone is labeled smartphone does not mean I want to pay data charges.

Haha I like how you changed what you called yourself from a certain name to party pooper..

Trying to keep it clean....

I fully understand your frustration but those are the rules and you know that. If you use wifi that much then I'd just pay $15 and use the 200mb data plan, in addition to having full BIS then you'd also have cellular data to fall back on. I too am around wifi more than not but I have to purchase the 2GB data plan because 200mb just isn't enough, is it fair? Probably not but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Hopefully you figure it all out, most carriers now do system sweeps for smart phones and add the appropriate data plans.

[austriker]

Yea I think thats pretty lame. So I just bought a 9700 off craigslist brand new.. And I have yet to put in my sim card because I want to explore my options fully first. So I connected it to our wireless network but it wont open up browser or anything (which the G1 will do without a sim card in). Why is this? Can I use wifi with the blackberry??? And will I be able to block the phone from accessing data to prevent it from going over the 200 MB limit? I had an app on my android that would block it from mobile data to prevent over charges.

Thanks. Also any idea how often they do sweeps? I would like to try it out for a few days but not if that means I get hit with a data charge when Im not sure that I will get a bold or a G2..

[austriker]

Anyone? I am really interested in firing up this blackberry but am wondering why it wont connect to internet even though I have wifi connected.

[CrackBerryBryan]

You can use wifi without a BIS plan but you will have to go in the browser configuration menu and change it to something other than the blackberry browser. There are choices for internet explorer and firefox. But take note none of the push services or BBM will work without the BIS plan.

[austriker]

Huh. Okay. Sweet, yea that works now. Thanks!

Wow. so you were right. I had the blackberry on with my SIM card in it for at most 8 hours earlier this week. And I just was notified via the scammers at AT&T that I get the pleasure of having the bb $25 data plan thrust upon my plan. This is even though I have been using my G1. So super lame, I like how they didnt even give me the 200mb plan but gave me the most expensive data possible (w/o going to tethering I guess). Awfully kind of them. Oh and they wont let me change it online. Gosh what a great, customer-friendly company; they really have our best interests in mind.

Sooo should I use my 9700 now, or should I wait until the 9900 comes out (which Im stoked for) ?? Im just kinda impatient I think..

[Mister Xiado]

AT&T does recognize the make and model of every phone you put your SIM into, but T-Mobile or Verizon BlackBerry phones don't invoke the data requirement.

If $15 or $25 for data service is too expensive, you don't need a BLACKBERRY.

Read the terms of service, too. None of AT&T's policies are secret.