you HAVE to have a BIS/BES plan for BBM to work. By paying that charge your carrier authorizes you phone on the BIS/BES servers. If you do not pay it, they do not authorize you... stinks? sure... but it's their protocol, not mine.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
BIS- BlackBerry Internet Service
BES - BlackBerry Enterprise Server
BIS is what the everyday user has for internet on their BB
BES is what companies use for their services.
So you will need at least BIS to run bbm, no questions or way around it.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
I have a 500mb plan, my phone never leaves my side and I use it a lot.
I've never gone over 290mb(using no WiFi at all). RIM has a very good data compression system in place. I'd say even a 200mb plan ( only available by some carriers) is sufficient if you are using WiFi mainly.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
To get BBM, you will have to Data Package, regardless of how expensive or how cheap. There is no way around it. W/o a Data Plan, Vodafone will not authorize your phone for BIS/BES services.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
If you can get wifi in most places, you can get a data plan with a small amount of data, because BBM WILL work via wifi, once you are connected to the BIS, and any data package at all will get you connected to your carrier's BIS. And the time spent over wifi will not count towards your data allowance.