T-Mobile Upgrade with Total Internet add-on

[netmatt]

I am ready for an upgrade for my Dash, and was thinking BB (maybe Pearl or Pearl Flip, does either tether?). I currently have a $39.99 Phone plan with the T-Mobile Total Internet Add-on (9.99, seems unlimited).

It seems to let me upgrade to a BB without saying I need a BB data plan (up to the point I hit accept at least, but I have not yet)

A couple of questions:

1) Does this plan work (sure I will not get push email, but I am OK with that) with a BB? Anyone runnin it?

2) Should I use the online upgrade, or should I call "retentions" instead for a better deal? (Been only a 2 year user, but my wife on my account is about 8 years)

3) Anything else to keep in mind?

Thanks for any assistance ahead of time!

Matt

[mandony]

For Blackberry service you need a BB plan:
BB internet and BB email

ref (1): The TM total internet is useful for phones that are not BB. However if you are switching SIM cards between a BB and a non BB then this is the plan to have too. This plan does not give you BB pushed email.

BB plans are pushed thru the BB server to get your email.

The usual thing in your case would be to cancel the total internet and order the BB plans

You can likely get BB Internet and BB email for 19.99
without messaging
With some messaging for about 24.99

ref (2): You should call CS and get this straightened out since on line they do not have all the promotional options

[netmatt]

Thanks for the reply, and I do understand the for the Blackberry "Push Email" I need a Blackberry plan, but I honestly don't want Push email. I prefer to "Pull" my email when I need it via POP3 or such. If I had "Push" email, I would be attached to work too much! ;-)

My understanding is the Pearl models don't require a BB plan...but I am worried about the limitations of the BB phones, even the Curve or Bold (other than no push email) without a BB plan?

[netmatt]

I found a good summary on Blackberryforums.com (cant post link, not enough posts)! Let me know if they are wrong, but based on the app/browser limitation, I probably wont go BB.

Thanks anyway!

With NO data plan you may:

* make phone calls
* send/receive text SMS messages
* NOT use any instant messenger program that anyone has found so far
* use the device as a standalone PIM
* NOT send or receive any information over the internet, in any way shape or form, despite what you heard about it being possible


With a generic data plan in addition you may:

* use a third party browser like Opera Mini, but NOT the resident BlackBerry browser
* may get email either via a web interface (using Opera) or other third party app, but NOT BlackBerry push email
* use a number of third party applications that require net access, including some instant messenger programs
, as long as they're available to install from DM because:
* canNOT install apps OTA because that requires the resident browser
* canNOT use BlackBerry messenger or do PIN-->PIN messaging


With a BlackBerry data plan you may do all of the above plus:

* receive true BlackBerry push email from up to 10 different email accounts
* use the resident BlackBerry supplied browser to access the internet
* install applications OTA via the supplied resident browser
* use BlackBerry Messenger and send PIN-->PIN messages

[netmatt]

ARGH! I was going to setlle on the Behold, since my options for upgrade for a reasonable price are slim with T-Mobile...but tethering is not supported with the behold (ugh!) Looks like it may be with the Pearl...back to BB...sigh

Given the non-support for OTA apps, would downloaded apps from sites like www blackberryapps DOT com work? (using tmo total internet)