**Phone Switch Question**

[xogiules]

i have a phone plan with verizon, but i want to buy a blackberry outside of verizon... not on ebay, but some sort of site that sells phones and pda's.

i've read some previous threads about phone switches, and have gotten the directions about activating phones online and getting EDS numbers, but i'm really confused about things like features and stuff like that.

the phone i currently have has no internet feature, but i'd like to have it on the blackberry i get, in fact- verizon doesn't sell blackberries without a data plan, so it HAS to have internet.

how do you add on that sort of thing-- or is it automatically added? and what kind of fees apply to thsi whole thing?

thanks soo mcuh!!

[morpheusq3]

I'm not too sure about the part on where to get a BB without going somewhere like ebay....But...as far as if and when you get one. You WILL NEED to get one of 2 plans for it. there is a 29$ plan and a 49$ plan for the devices. If you have questions about it, one of the sales people should be very helpful to you.
In addition....if you want to get it activated...the best bet for you is probably going to be doing it yourself on My Verizon. Otherwise they charge you $20 in store to do an esn change (unless you are a VIP cust).

[crood]

I recently activated a used Motorola Q that I got off of eBay. When I went through the process online, it asked me to select a data plan as an add-on to my existing plan. I was able to choose the per MB plan which incurs no additional monthly charge.

[scottb]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry Pearl 8130: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.1.11355/546; U; en))

The online activation will ask you to choose a data plan when going from a regular phone to a smartphone. However, you won't be able to select the pay-as-you-go plan that is available for a Windows Mobile device. You will have to select BIS at $30 per month or BES (for corporate accounts) at $45.

[leafsfan81]

Originally Posted by scottb

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry Pearl 8130: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.1.11355/546; U; en))

The online activation will ask you to choose a data plan when going from a regular phone to a smartphone. However, you won't be able to select the pay-as-you-go plan that is available for a Windows Mobile device. You will have to select BIS at $30 per month or BES (for corporate accounts) at $45.

That is correct.

If you decide to let a CSR do it over the phone, please make sure that they put you on the correct plan. If you don't need BES, the $29/month internet plan is right for you. They are both unlimited plans but the $45 is for corporate users as previously stated. I had problems activating my 8830 last Thursday night, so I had to call into CS to make the change and it took nearly 60 minutes because of a network outage. I also had to change my plan because I was on a premium nationwide plan and my 8830 wasn't compatible with it.

If you can do it online, I suggest that so you are in full control.