Hey everybody, For the past few days I've been trying to get my girlfriend a new red Blackberry Curve 8310 with at&t. She went to the corporate at&t store near Asheville, NC (2 days ago) and told the rep she didn't want the $30.00 BIS package with it, she told me the rep just said flat out, then just get a text messaging plan with it. When my girlfriend told me this I was confused. The question is, is it possible now to get a blackberry w/o the data package? She said the rep said it was possible to do this, but I'm kinda confused if it's possible. Thanks, Alien.
ATT never forced data packages on anyone. that is a trait of other companys. THO i must admit, w/o the data package, it is not as nice of a phone. but still functions well.
So then could I get the MEdia Net internet package on the phone after we activate it?? Or will at&t not allow this.
if they see it they are gonna call you and tell you that you cant have that. it is a violation of TOS. also you wont get the push email and it probably wont browse as well. but technically it would work.
My understanding has been that if they determine the data plan that you are using isn't of the "correct" variety, they will switch you to and bill you for the correct version.
I've used all sorts of data packages. I've used the $19.99 Media Net Unlimited plan on my Tilt, the "Recommended" $39.99 data plan, and currently I'm using the $19.99 Smartphone Connect Unlimited (no longer available as of last week). Usually ATT will bait you to sign up for their recommended plan by attaching a rebate to the plan. I believe on my Tilt it was a $100 rebate for signing up for the recommended plan. After I got my rebates I promptly changed my data plan though. There's no way I could afford $40/mo for data over the long term. my bill is expensive enough. I've heard that BlackBerries are a different breed though, and they may not work without a BlackBerry data plan. -Jay
That has been my understanding also. I do have the "prescribed" PDA Unlimited plan. I think I would much rather pay $20/month extra than all of a sudden get a bill in hundreds of dollars and possibly a termination notice with it.
Yeah they won't terminate you. They will simply say its the wrong plan like mentioned above. Then they will ask if u want the correct one or nothing at all. There is basically a certain amount of data that can be used with medianet before u become "on the radar" and they figure out u have a pda and they call u I haven't figured out the amount of data but I think 100 or 150mb and higher. They basically figured on a reg phone more than that is nearly impossible for most people but easy for a pda
About 2 years ago I was regularly teathering my V551 to my computer on the $19.99 Media Net Unlimited plan. They never said anything. Now I was careful to not download any large files that might give me away though. Large files were downloaded at work and carried home on a thumbdrive. -Jay
With the new data/messaging plans it is only a $5/month difference for me. I now have the PDA Unlimited with 1500 messages & unlimited m2m messaging for $45.00. The Media Net unlimited + unlimited messaging would be $40.00. Since most of my friends are on at&t I don't need the full unlimited messaging anyway. Alienware, sorry for hijacking your thread. :O
Lol, it's alright Charlyee. Ok, I now know that I can get the MEdia Net package on the BlackBerry, the other question comes about. Will the browser work on the BlackBerry with the MEdia Net package? Because I know with 1st hand experience that if one does not have the BIS or BES package, the email and browser icon will not show on the home screen.
i dont think so...this has actually been a topic of debate. but im pretty sure it doesnt, bc it doesnt give you access to the blackberry servers which doesnt give you internet access.
Even at $10 difference, you may still not care - but actually the new "MediaMax Unlimited" plan (unlimited MediaNet and unlimited messaging) is $35/month. Media Bundles
Yes, you are right, my mistake . I don't know, as our forumite friend keeps saying "for peace of mind", hmm I wonder how you say that in a Woostuh accent . So, let's say for arguments sake that I got the BB 8310 as a back up phone, there is no way to fully use it beyond making calls & texting without changing plans from my PDA Unlimited to BB Plan depending on which phone I was using that day, right? Thanks.
technically you can use a BB Plan on any PDA...with that, it will give you the ability to direct push all your email.. for the windows users not hooked up with an exchanged server, that is a glorious thing. also i just installed Opera 4 mini and i love it! definetly could be improved, but an upgrade from the current blackberry browser offering.
LOL!!! Yes, I can almost hear several forumites offering their sage comments now. While it doesn't currently impact me, if it did I would either put the appropriate data plan on the account (as deemed by at&t), or at least be mentally prepared with a budgetary reserve for any possible "corrective" billing. While I don't believe they would actually terminate an account for having used an incorrect data plan (too many at&t reps are still willing to provision incorrect plans), it has been my understanding that they can tell what device you are using each time you connect to the network but that this information is/has not been linked with the billing system. In my mind, it is not an unreasonable stretch to believe the connection will probably be made at some point in time.
what i noticed on my friends AT&T Blackberry Pearl is that there is the Browser program built right in from Blackberry but there is an icon for MEdia Net which you can use and they internet works fine........the thing about Blackberry's for those of you who don't know is that all Blackberry data is funneled through the carrier to RIM the blackberry manufacturer........RIM handles all the internet and that is why you have to get the Blackberry package........as has been said.......you will not be perpetually connected for things like the Blackberry messaging service........or push email unless you have that Blackberry data plan but as far as I have seen AT&T is the only one where you can get away with this
