I Need Help

[miller2551]

I need to get off my family plan. I want to switch to T-mobile. I go to school in Bloomington, IN where 3g service is presently being installed and should be ready by the end of August.

However, Tmobile doesnt offer a BB that supports 3g (I think). I feel it would be kind of a waste to buy the 8900, only to see Tmobile suddenly roll out a device that supports 3g.

Can I possibly negotiate a deal with T-mobile to buy the 8900 and then if a 3g blackberry is rolled out, switch to that? I dont understand why T-Mobile is adding all of these 3g network ares in Q1 and Q2 without a blackberry to take advantage of them...

[Riders On The Storm]

First off, it's good to hear from another BB user in Bloomington!

As for the BB dilemma, I am slightly confused. You want to get off of T-Mobile or go to T-Mobile? Unfortunately, I do not think T-Mobile will be offering an 3G BB's soon, so you might be out of luck there. You might have a shot if the Onyx drops. While it is due on AT&T first, it is a GSM phone, so potentially it could end up on T-Mobile.

If that does not work, why not get off of the plan [if that is what you are trying to do] and get your own service with AT&T or (by far best in Bloomington) Verizon? I know friends who could not get phone service in Bloomington, let alone data with T-Mobile, so I feel staying on that network could be frustrating. I love my BB on Verizon's network and I get service EVERYWHERE, including inside of big buildings.

I hope this helps and please feel free to PM or BBM me if you have any questions!

[Riders On The Storm]

As for the deal you want to work out, I do not see why! It is worth a shot, but I believe they will not be so willing to work with you because you ultimately want the nicest phone now, and then want to upgrade once a nicer one comes out. It might be a hard sell.

[miller2551]

I apologize for not being more clear. I am currently using a dumb phone on a family plan for Verizon.

I want to get off that plan, and I want to move over to T-Mobile, becuase of the upcoming 3g and a discount I can use.

I've been reading up on the Onyx, and it sounds great. Unfortunatley, I need to get off the family plan before school starts, so I think I'll have to get the 8900. I can see it already... THe onyx will drop, and I'll be stuck with my 8900, which can't use the new 3g.

[miller2551]

In response to the verizon blackberry plan or AT&T plan: They're way to expensive for me. I can get 300 min and unlimited data/messaging for for $55 a month with T-Mobile, or Sprint

Which brings up another question:

You think I should go with Sprint over T mobile if I wont be able to take advantage of 3g either way?

[Riders On The Storm]

Fair enough. I might suggest, since you are leaving Verizon, to consider AT&T. IU students get a discount on AT&T serivce and if T-Mo has 3G down here, then so does AT&T. Just a suggestion.

If it makes you feel any better, the Onyx has very little know about its arrival, so maybe it won't be out for a while and the 8900 is a great device. You will enjoy it nonetheless!

[Riders On The Storm]

Originally Posted by miller2551

In response to the verizon blackberry plan or AT&T plan: They're way to expensive for me. I can get 300 min and unlimited data/messaging for for $55 a month with T-Mobile, or Sprint

Which brings up another question:

You think I should go with Sprint over T mobile if I wont be able to take advantage of 3g either way?

Sorry about my post above, I just missed you posting it. Hmmm... It depends what the coverage is like. If the maps for B-Town look good, then I would go with Sprint just because they will give you a 3G phone and some people have good luck with them. Like you hinted at, having a great plan, but a phone stuck on 2G really doesn't give you much. At least with Sprint you could look at the Tour, which is apparently the phone to have, behind the Bold.

Sprint may have a "try before you buy" policy, similar to Verizon so you could see if you could give it a test drive to make sure you are satisfied. If not, go to T-Mobile. I'd start with Sprint though, for what I said above.

[Californium89]

I wouldn't be to worried abot 3g imo the 8900 is a solid device and the 3g bb won't be out for a while thr edge network as far as I'm concerned is fast enough to get the job done I would just grab the 8900 and stick with it

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[tmotytn]

I don't have first hand experience with the 8900, but I have been told that the processor makes up for the lack of 3G (someone correct me if I am wrong), so I don't think you would be terribly disappointed with the speed of the 8900.

All carriers have a set period of time to test out the device and service (ATT is 30 days, Tmo is 14 days). If you are not happy with them, just take the phone back and cancel the service.

And to clarifyone point from above, just because Tmo has 3g in an area does not automatically mean that ATT does, too. They have different 3g frequencies, and therefore don't roam or piggyback on one another.

Not a ton of help, I know...just my two cents.

[miller2551]

Thanks everyone for the help. Unfortunately, I still dont know what to do. Ultimately, I'll probably go with Sprint and the Tour. I just think they're more reliable then T-Mobile.