vB Easy Archive - Still Confused: Plan for 8525 in SF Bay Area

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Still Confused: Plan for 8525 in SF Bay Area
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Posted by: yelrx8

I'm new to HoFo and following this topic for a while, because I plan to purchase a 8525.

Here are my options for data plans in the San Francisco Bay Area that comes up on the cingular web store:

Option1: Unlimited Media Net/with messaging $19
Option2: Unlimited Data Connect (w/Xpress mail) $39
Option3: Business Data Connect with Tethering $79

For some reason, I don't have the PDA Connect as an option.

I plan to be tethering with the 8525, so I mentioned it to the sales rep who reccommended option 3. But can't option 2 allow tethering also, but without the extra $40? I'm going thru the T&C's:

"Furthermore, unlimited plans (except for DataConnect and Blackberry
Tethered) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to laptops, PCs, or other equipment for any purpose."

Option 1 seems to be the cheapest, but to be legit, I'm not supposed to tether with it. Furthermore, I'm reading that the connection with wap.cingular.com is not as good as isp.cingular.com from the data connect plans.

Does all 3 options connect on 3G, where available?
Can I add or delete these data connect as "additional services" within the 2 yr contract?

Thanks in advance.

Posted by: cheatah

I have the same questions, no one at cingular seems to know what they are talking about or know, what I need, I am recieving my Cingular 8525 today and I want to make sure I get the right plan so I don't get screwed over signing up for the wrong one. I may tether it with my laptop, but im not sure yet. I mostly definately want to use the internet on it however quote often if its as fast as im hoping. Which is pretty fast when I was in Las Vegas and used my 3g razr.

Posted by: RF9

"Data connect" is the same thing as "PDA connect." They're synonymous. Data Connect is the older naming convention, PDA connect is a newer naming convention. For some reason through business premiere ordering they still call it Data connect instead of pda connect. PDA connect is used on the consumer site, Data connect on the business site. Go figure.

All 3 plans will work on the 8525. If you want to do tethering I recommend at least Option #2. It is in fact the exact same thing as the $40 PDA plan.
As you can see from the terms and conditions, it's technically legit to tether on #2, the data connect plan. So no need to get #3 unless you want to use a laptop modem card (that's what it's really for.)

#2 and #3 are technically identical, just one is $20 more per month for laptops. Cingular will tell you to get $60 plan for tethering, but you can do it on #2. It depends who you talk to, but they do allow it on the $40 plan.

You can tether on #1, but I don't recommend it if you want to do it frequently. If it's a rare/occasional thing, then no problem. But regularly is probably not recommended. #1 also only includes access to the wap.cingular access point. #2 and #3 include both wap.cingular and isp.cingular. you can tether through either access point but isp.cingular was designed for tethering.

Also last question. Yes. If the data plan is an add on feature to a voice plan, the data 'feature' can be added, removed, or changed at any time with no regards to your contract. The contract only applies to your voice plan (which you can upgrade/downgrade, just can't cancel.)
So you can get one data plan, and if it doesn't work out right, you can easily switch.
It's different if you got a data only account (with no voice plan.) In this case the contract is on the data plan. But that's pretty rare.

You might even be able to do it online through your account login at cingular.com if they have the option you want on the "add features' page (not all data plans are listed there.)