access emails without BIS?

hi guys,

I am jimmy from singapore. was in the queue to buy a 9700 at Singtel, and the guys there say I HAVE TO BUY the BIS if i need to recieve emails on my phone.

I am not talking about pushmail, i dont need that. on my E72, I can just connect anytime i want to recieve and send emails (not pushmail). all these with just a regular data plan.

Can the BB9700 do that without the Blackberry service?

i have been wanting to get the 9700, but i dont need the mails to be pushed to me, so am not willing to pay monthly subs for the extra service.