Forced Data Plan With BB 8130

From what I have seen on the VZW online store, Blackberries require a data plan.... data block and pay per use are not available for these devices. I think that there is some sort of agreement between RIM and Verizon that mandates a data plan. I dont know whether the other wireless providers mandate a data pak with their Blackberries or not.

Your only other Verizon option is to get a non Blackberry device and get a data block or pay per use on the data.

 

I just bought a BB8130 today and they do require a data plan, but I just added a $29.99 unlimited plan to my voice plan, which was more than satisfactory for me. Came out cheaper than getting the whole plan and dumping my voice plan.

 

i dont think its a mandate with RIM...they are getting their revenue off of phones, not off of Data. if this was true, evey company that sells Blackberrys would force a data plan. This, however, is not the case, i dont believe any company other than Verizon forces data plans on people AFAIK.

 

i think it is a falsehood. its a way for them to increase ARPU in exchange for your desire to have the latest and the greatest. Their excuse is that you need it to enjoy those devices, which is partically true also, but not necessary.

 

I sell US Cellular, Sprint and Nextel and they all require data plans on BB's. I believe it really does have something to do with RIM's "push" email system, where whenever you receive an email it automatically send's it to your phone. This actually runs on RIM's server's not the carrier's.

As far as other PDA's go, I think most carriers "require" data packages to ensure against high data charges. What is really the point of having a Smartphone if you don't have data anyway. I suppose if you text a lot it might be useful, but most of the additional functions you get with a smartphone would be useless without a data package.

 

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Sorry I am also not answering your original question, actually I done know if it is a given that CDMA carriers require it & GSM don't. I personally think it is a particular provider's decision.

The one comment I would like to make about BBs in general is that the main reason someone gets a BB is for the push E-Mail. It has a limited browser & PDA, as a phone there are many that are equal or better.

So I guess it is assumed that a person getting a BB would need the BIS or BES plan.

Just my 2 cents

 

Thanks for the clarification... I figured that the data is from RIM's proprietary servers.

They do push their data packs with their smartphones... however, on Verizon, only the RIM devices REQUIRE a data plan. PPU data and data blocks are available for nonRIM smartphones. I have to disagree that smartphones are pointless without data... If I wasnt so addicted to the internet/email on my Q, I would still use the thing for phone functions... although I wouldnt pay retail pricing for the phone for it. The thing is a signal hog and I do like the way contacts can be set up.

Some of the functions do require data, but for me, the only data functions i use are internet, email, and the occasional contact sync. I use WMP extensively as well, but data isnt required for that It's up to the users to decide what he/she wants in a device... For me, a smartphone is almost overkill but since I didn't pay for mine, I am not going to complain. If someone wants only a corkscrew and gets a Swiss Army knife, so be it... at least they didn't get toothpick instead.

 

still, i dont believe its a Blackberry thing. if that was true, how do T-Mobile and ATT let people get blackberrys w/o a data plan.

i think it is a CDMA thing...likely some sort of deal steaming from their roaming agreements.

 

all the reps are lying.........Blackberries can be activated without the data plans.......but then the only thing they will be able to do i make phone calls and text and use any program that is on the phone........data of any kind would be completely out of the question.....

RIM mandates from all carriers that they charge for data...........to ensure that this falls through........all Blackberries are programmed to use the carriers data network as a tunnel to the RIM Internet Service................RIM handles all data............

i would think the reason that some people belive that GSM carriers dont require it is that you can just pop your SIM into a Blackberry.............and itll work fine it just wont have Internet until you activate it on your plan.......

 

that looks like the most believeable reasoning ive read yet.

:thumb:

 

so really the thing is the carriers are tunneling the data to RIM and RIM is a simple proxy.........if the Blackberries could be reprogrammed with the carrier's data network info instead of the RIM data info then you could potentially bypass the plan but so far i havent seen a hack for it

 

Tell you what if this can be done I would love a blackberry. I think that they are great I am just not going to pay for that lol.

 

BB plans are cheaper on verizon for non corporate email. Reason being is that BB wants the market that the q's and the treo's now occupy, which is companies and individuals that don't want to pay for RIM's software that is needed for email servers.

 

Here is my take on this.
GSM it is easier to switch out phones and smart phones with the SIM card. Carriers you have to put in the "phone" info so they have more control over what phone you have.

 

yeah...........i'm on Sprint and I think I'm gonna go with the Motorola Q9c simply because I don't want the hassle of a $30 internet fee considering that i already get internet included in my plan.....

 

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You could do what many others do -- get the device and just keep calling customer service until you get a rep to remove the data plan.

Just remember, don't ask for a refund when you incur astronomical data charges.

 

although.......if you do the ESN swap online does it automatically add the internet add on??? cuz you could do it that way to avoid the package

 

oh well then can you add it and then remove it manually later by yourself........cuz the carriers can do blackberrys without the plan........i know it

 

I was told that VZW pays RIM $6.00 a month per unit. Now do you see why RIM requires a data plan on all Blackberries.

 

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I still can't imagine why you would want a BB without data. Today's regular phones have good contact databases and calendars with reminders in them.

Anything else, like email and Web, will require data.

 

because people associate the name blackberry with "high end" and want it for the name. sorta like treo's use to be (sorta still are considered)

 

also.........there are a lot of kids who like it for the keyboard and overall physical design......