Confused about the "required" data plan

[Chicago1287]

I'm unaware about any new rules but I thought that with T-mobile, you are required to have a data plan if you get a blackberry.

One of my friends upgraded her phone for $49.99 to the Curve 8900 last month. At first they automatically put the data plan on her line but she called customer service and they took it out for her. Am I confused about something?

Please save the "why get a blackberry without the data plan"...I already know. I want to know because my younger sister wants one and we do not need to pay $25 extra for the data plan for her.

[NorrisCell]

One of two possibilities:

1- The rep that did the original upgrade failed to put the correct required data feature on the account, which is why they were able to remove it.

2- The rep the account holder spoke to at care either misunderstood or was misled.

Don't be surprised if it gets added back on if the error is noticed.

If your younger sister wants one, get a used/ebay one, or pay the full price.

[Bigceasar]

Make both you and your sister's lives easy, switch to Sprint and you get all the unlimited data plan u need.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[NorrisCell]

Originally Posted by Bigceasar

Make both you and your sister's lives easy, switch to Sprint and you get all the unlimited data plan u need.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Thanks for your valuable contribution. Is being an uninformed troll a satisfying lifestyle?

[mandony]

If the phone was bought from TM on an upgrade or new account then their web site says 'A BlackBerry data service is required."
If the phone was purchased from another source and used on TM then there is no requirement.

If you have a BB GSM phone purchased from TM then it will not work on Sprint:
Sprint, Virgin Mobile and Verizon Wireless use CDMA service.
TM and ATT use GSM service.
The phones are not interchangeable on the other service.

[Artemis68]

Your friend may have been able to get the data plan off but my advice to you is don't expect the same for your sister. T-Mobile requires a data plan for BBs that are bought at a steep, subsidized discount. This is how T-Mobile makes their money while offering you smartphones for cheap.

Your friend got lucky. The general rule is that the data plan stays on.

If you want, your sis can get a T-Mo BB off of ebay and use it on T-Mobile without a plan. Or buy the new BB at full price.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Artemis68]

Also, thanks mandony for the clarification on GSM/CDMA. I hope the "sprint" guy didn't confuse the OP or anyone else with his poor advice.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[48593039584729]

Yeah there is one or two reps that will be in hot water over this.

They should've never removed that data pkg. It's required with all smartphones (excluding Nuron) after October or September of last year. I wouldn't count on being so lucky next time.

You should just buy the BB outright. The Curve 8900 is worth maybe $150. When you don't get it from T-Mobile at a discount data is not a required service.

[Artemis68]

Yeah there are tons of cheap, good BBs on eBay. Just use a good, reputable seller with lots of feedback.

I've seen excellent used BBs (like the 8900) for about $150.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Myveggies]

TMO started requiring data back in June of last year.

Question: I heard there is something else cheaper you can have on the BB to fulfill the requirement instead of the unlimited BIS for $30, what is it? I am going overseas for a couple of months and will not be needing BIS and would like to save some money.

[Yell0w]

Originally Posted by Myveggies

TMO started requiring data back in June of last year.

Question: I heard there is something else cheaper you can have on the BB to fulfill the requirement instead of the unlimited BIS for $30, what is it? I am going overseas for a couple of months and will not be needing BIS and would like to save some money.

the last time i talked with a TMO rep, they said you just need to have a service with the phone if you got via a discount, they said i can add the $24.99 unlimited txt plan instead of the BIS

[CharredPC]

When I first got my 9700 (through an upgrade, a few months back) I was able to sign up for the $14.99 Unlimited Texting instead of a $30 data plan. I was told that there needs to be a $14.99 or higher service on the phone, not necessarily data. This was initially set up at a 3rd party dealer, but later verified and recreated on my wife's new phone with a T-Mobile rep at an official store. That setup served me well for several months, until they offered that $20 data plan for a week (or whatever it was until they pulled it); at that point my wife and I both switched to it, so I got my data and we paid the same Hope this helps.

[Chicago1287]

Thanks for the replies...a few more things I'm wondering though.

Let's say someone wants to sell me their T-Mobile BB 9700. From Artemis68's post, I see that T-Mobile won't automatically add a data plan to it. But let's say that I decide to put the data plan on there myself, is it possible to cancel it later on? Or will T-Mobile force me to keep it?

[j_rahman07]

Originally Posted by Chicago1287

Thanks for the replies...a few more things I'm wondering though.

Let's say someone wants to sell me their T-Mobile BB 9700. From Artemis68's post, I see that T-Mobile won't automatically add a data plan to it. But let's say that I decide to put the data plan on there myself, is it possible to cancel it later on? Or will T-Mobile force me to keep it?

yes you can cancel it later on since you didnt do an upgrade. but im also with you on this being confused about the required data plan cause 2 of my cousins did an upgrade got the 9700, called tmobile and took off the data plan.

[Artemis68]

Yep, the data plan is only required when you do an upgrade. Since you bought the phone yourself from a 3rd party, you're welcome to add and remove data whenever you want.

As for why some people are getting out of the data plan via reps, I would be careful. This policy is relatively new and I'm betting that there are still reps out there who either don't know about it or aren't taking it seriously. The bottom line is that if you upgrade and pay a subsidized price for the phone, you need a data plan. Finding a rep to take it off for you is pure luck and I wouldn't rely on that.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com