Posted this info ages back, but might help the OP make a choice...
My experience using a BlackBerry 9700 on an old 'T-Zones' web connection (no BIS data plan):
1.
IM: None of the pre-installed instant messaging apps work. They are tied to BIS servers, so a "standard" TCP/IP / APN data plan makes them just pull up a "you must upgrade your account" error. I got around this by using Beejive (and still do, now that I have BIS). Most people who use IM like this option better anyhow, instead of running all those different apps.
2.
Browsing: Opera and Bolt worked fine. The native browser worked when I connected to Wifi, as long as I switched the setting to "Hotspot Browser." That probably doesn't mean it was using RIM's servers, so it likely wasn't optimized... but it did function. I ended up using Opera for most things anyhow.
3.
Email: For email, I just installed the Gmail app. Maybe I didn't have push, but it auto-checked and notified me whenever I got email (usually very quickly) so I didn't care. Hotmail etc can always be accessed through a browser.
4.
GPS: BlackBerry maps doesn't work, same error. The icon wasn't even showing at first, so I installed a shortcut and got it to run... it ran, but without being able to pull data, it was useless. So I installed Google Maps, which worked great.
5.
Weather: For weather apps, several worked, but I decided on (and still use) the free version of BerryWeather. It has a Direct TCP/IP setting (which they finally fixed) so no BIS connection is required. It updates itself hourly.
6.
Apps: BlackBerry App World also wasn't showing up at first. I reinstalled it using an OTA link (now posted in my sig), and it then worked fine! Worked 100%, on browsing / downloading / installing all apps.
7.
VVM: For Visual Voice Mail, I used the free YouMail, and it worked great. Again, some people actually prefer this to the original VVM. I've never really cared much either way, TBH, but it worked fine.
8.
Misc: Other apps such as T-Mobile's My Account app, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Poynt, Speedtest etc all worked as expected. I guess most third party apps don't rely on the BIS servers, just TCP/IP.
Overall verdict: Positives- I could text, chat online, do email, browse the web, use GPS navigation, and listen to live music while on the go. For me, who'd dealt with a "dumb" phone for years, this was amazing enough. And it's not like the camera, sweet screen resolution, or any other hardware aspect was disabled. You also get to laugh at everyone here when there's a RIM outage, and nothing has changed for you
Negatives- No BlackBerry Messenger. No Facebook app. No push anything. Everyone here pokes you with sticks and treats you like you belong on the short bus for daring to have a BlackBerry without a $25 BIS plan
They'll all say "What's the point in even having one then??" In some cases, depending on what you need out of your device, that's sort of true.
Bottom line is it's up to you. My 9700 was by no means worthless or useless with a T-Zone direct TCP/IP connection. There were concessions, but at the time they weren't anything that bothered me. It may be enough for you, if you're on a very tight budget and / or this selection suits your needs. I finally got BIS when we were offered the $20 data plan price for each of our two lines; the combined savings let us pay just as much, but got me proper BIS. Since the switch, I admit it has been nice to try out BBM, use the native VVM, etc.
Let me know if I didn't cover anything or you have any questions. I realize that there's precious little documentation or real experience on the subject, and most well-meaning people here when asked (having no experience with it) will say things like "Nothing will work, it'll be useless."
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$10 data plan for unlocked bold 9700 
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