[Jamie Brahm]

I was all set to be fully decided on this model, and then one other issue crept up in my research - if you don't have a proper blackberry data plan - you miss out on some things.

From what I can tell, and tell me if I am missing anything its:

Blackberry push email
Blackberry native browser
Pin2Pin messaging
Install apps via browser "over air"

I was always going to use opera mini anyway. And my understanding is the phone takes java as well as its own blackberry OS apps. So if I install via my PC at home (easier and saves data anyway), use opera mini, and find a suitable decent third party e-mail app (once ive upgraded to 7.1, again via PC, via some non-vendor source).....this would seem to mostly deal with the problem. I guess worst case I could use a java app for e-mail, but would be much better if it was a blackberry OS app, so the push notifications showed (all good if its just one account, I only use one)

If you use/used your blackberry off-plan, what apps did you use to make it work better?

How much of an issue can this be?

Also how often does the blackberry ping cause service interruptions? Im not a huge mobile internet person, but am curious.

There are two blackberry plan providers in my country....but they do not have the cheapest data, or texts, or phone calls.

Thanks for your input!

[zocster]

Hello fellow kiwi, even the cheapest on account no contract term for Vodafone NZ offers FREE BIS ... at $39.00 a month, you get unlimited SMS, and 300 minutes of calling with 1 GB of data.

[Jamie Brahm]

Well, I am a student, so even $39.00 a month is too much, given I don't call or text, or use data that much.

Skinny offers 400MB for 4$ or around 1.2gb for $12 (each last one week, there some slightly more expensive month long one), and 2 degrees offers $20 per 1gb (for a month but 2 degrees not so good, because it's only in cities).

Any network would be fine, because the blackberry in question is HSPA+ I think, the speed would all be the same (and its actually quite a high speed from memory)

Both those give .10c or less texts, and cheap calling. Skinny also offers a minimum of $5 top ups, rather than the usual $20.

Money wise, because I am an slightly more infrequent user, there is just no sense in me getting a plan at this stage. Thanks however for the info. If I am ever a bit richer, i'd look at it. 1 gig data, and unlimited sms + 300 hours calling would let you be pretty free with your phone use.

That freedom would be nice, if I could afford it. Although id probably prefer more data, less hours myself, just in case I want to download something at the doctors office - 100 hours calling per month seems like plenty for a non-business user :P

I really do like vodafone as a company, and it would be nice to have blackberrys on account features rather than have to work around them (although I'd probably use opera mini either way, I love opera, it would be nice to do app installs via the phone, and use the native email program which apparently is awesome :/).

Yeah, if I get more money, i'd definately look at it.

Its a shame that there is no prepay service with any provider that offers access to blackberry's APN. If there was, I might be a little less concerned with the exact data charge.

ATM, I am topping up $20, probably once a month, so yeah, not spending a lot on my phone service.

As much as blackberry ATM only has the same market share as windows phone, I am convinced that keyboard and button phones will make a huge come back, as business, tablet and non-phone smart device users gravitate to more functional and less fragile phone devices. One day, blackberry may be king I think, not just of business, but of personal phone useage. I am glad at least that vodafone and telecom both support the devices anyway, even if their plans are slightly in excess of what I myself have as disposable income. And I suppose thats because of the business useage. And I am glad blackberry has that staple also, because it means when the tablet, watch, glasses rise, and the touch only, large glass screen smart phone fad dies down, someone will be well placed to return us to specialised phone functionality.

[zocster]

There are tons of cheap z10 on trademe! get it, and go on skinny which works, 2 degrees even though cheap don't really work well with BB10 or any BB period.

[Jamie Brahm]

I am buying the curve 9360 I believe, and specifically because it is not touch, not overly large, nor fragile - is good as a phone, small light, and has all the smart features at the same time. Its the only phone in existance I believe that meets my requirements.

I get lots of people saying "yeah buy a os 10 device", but
I have a seven inch android tablet if I ever want a full mobile computing experience. It fits great (like super snug) in its case, in a shoulder bag I have. But I don't want that all the time, and I really do not want to baby expensive glass based touch devices every time I leave the house. Hence the whole reason I have come to blackberry - they are literally the only ones that offer such a device, the only non-touch device that runs a modern smart os (7.1, but hey it still does all the important stuff). With a gel cover, and a screen protector, it should be way hardier than any smart phone, something I can throw in my pocket without any concern.

I probably will go on skinny, because its cheap (specially for data, its the cheapest), and because of the covereage. I am not big on mobile data useage outside and out an about (ill have my data off most of the time), but the idea of being able to get it when I want it, thats great. With 5 buck tops ups, and 4 for 400mb, or 12 for 1.2gb (top up via my debit card), that option would always be there. Im fully impressed by skinny's rates actually.

I already have a sim from them (and a 2 degrees one, but 2 degrees data covereage is terrible)

[Jamie Brahm]

If your on skinny, prepay, what apps do you use for e-mail, browsing etc?

Is it much of a pain to be not connected to the blackberry APN?

[Jamie Brahm]

Oh, and for you kiwi folks - what offline GPS maps would you recommend for BB 7.1?

Im living in auckland, but I'd quite like one for whole new zealand if possible, but if not, just auckland would be okay.

Seems like buying an offline GPS maps would be a must.

Hmm, I assume you can still buy apps when off APN, via your PC, or can you not?!!

(That might be a deal breaker. Then Id have to go on plan to download apps, and then switch back to prepay :/)

Also assuming you can still access mobile data, without blackberry APN, if you use third party apps - if not, that would be a dealbreaker..

[zocster]

I would try waze. Seriously though it would be painful. Go to http://m.waze.com/ and see if you can. Don't get me wrong I have BBOS but I would not run it without BIS ...

[Jamie Brahm]

Waze is not a blackberry app, is it? Oh it is. But not offline.

According to an article I just read...I can still access the app store (via wifi only, but big deal, im not installing apps all day), a third party browser (I prefer opera for everything), a third party e-mail app (LogicMail is apparently pretty good)

Messanger can be replaced by whatsapp or a couple of others. Facebook Messenger works on data apparently. Basically the same. I usually text anyway. The only common third party app that seems to use the APN, is facebook actually. That can either be accessed via wi-fi, or via the actual facebook website.

Seems like not _much_ is lost by going BIS, if you replace everything with third party.

MAPS, well that is one thing I am still looking at a solution for..There must be one somewhere. There are online ones certainly, based on google, but offline...still looking.

This it turns out is actually the biggy, because BB maps only works on wifi without BIS. wifi only maps is dumb!

Ill have to email some new zealand map developers, see if their offline GPS maps work on my model...otherwise ill be stuck with online maps, which is a slight bit crabby...

will update if I find any NZ map that works offline on os 7.1, just for others that follow