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Leaving to Spain tomorrow ....Help me avoid extra charges....Empower/Jivetalk...

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Posted by: atwnsw

I am going to travel to Spain and don't want any big phone bills from tmobile when I get back. Since I am using my blackberry and anticipate using email more than phone, I am not going to buy a sim card for the trip.

However, while using my blackberry phone in Spain, a couple of thoughts have come to mind. I have already unlocked my phone and signed up temporarily for Tmobile International email plan (so no roaming charges for email).

Yes, I am a little confused with two applications that I have:

First, if I use Jivetalk, will I incur additional charges in Spain?

Second, I vaguely remember a discussion about Empower for reading email using different networks. Can somebody tell me if this is true and if this too incurs additional fees? If so, is there anyway to disable without removing the software?

Thanks in advance...

Anthony


Posted by: duker99

well, you'll probably be gone by the time you get this msg. but here's my experience w/ T Mobile (USA) going to Spain about 9 months ago:

- Blackberry International Plan: this low-cost, ad-hoc add on is keeping me as a T Mobile customer. TMO should be publically acknowledged for not trying to gouge their customers (you listening, AT&T?). This allowed me to get all my email at a flat rate, and also used GPRS and EDGE web browsing extensively without being charged extra.

- at the time I activated the BB Int'l Plan, I specifically asked a TMO rep if this covered both BB email *and* web/application data usage. She said Yes, unequivocally. I asked her if his was something she was uncertain about, and she just "thinks so", or if she absolutely knew without question. She indicated the latter.

- so, while airtime was not cheap, I was able to get my email, and use skype (IM only), and use a browser, at a low rate.

- I've read other threads here saying that they had to pay extra, on a per-KB basis for non-BB data usage under this plan. I believe you, but don't know what to tell ya. I asked TMO and they said it covered all data usage. And it did.

Have fun!


Posted by: atwnsw

I already signed up for the Blackberry International Plan just for this trip.

I just didn't know if that covers Empower (and Jivetalk).

It seems that each rep at tmobile is clueless and gives conflicting info.

Do you think I am safe to run both Empower and Jivetalk without getting nailed w/ extra fees?

Thanks

P.S. I leave tomorrow afternoon so will be checking posts regularly for advice until my trip.

Quote:
Originally Posted by duker99
well, you'll probably be gone by the time you get this msg. but here's my experience w/ T Mobile (USA) going to Spain about 9 months ago:

- Blackberry International Plan: this low-cost, ad-hoc add on is keeping me as a T Mobile customer. TMO should be publically acknowledged for not trying to gouge their customers (you listening, AT&T?). This allowed me to get all my email at a flat rate, and also used GPRS and EDGE web browsing extensively without being charged extra.

- at the time I activated the BB Int'l Plan, I specifically asked a TMO rep if this covered both BB email *and* web/application data usage. She said Yes, unequivocally. I asked her if his was something she was uncertain about, and she just "thinks so", or if she absolutely knew without question. She indicated the latter.

- so, while airtime was not cheap, I was able to get my email, and use skype (IM only), and use a browser, at a low rate.

- I've read other threads here saying that they had to pay extra, on a per-KB basis for non-BB data usage under this plan. I believe you, but don't know what to tell ya. I asked TMO and they said it covered all data usage. And it did.

Have fun!



Posted by: duker99

Sorry, not sure what to tell you, and I don't think anyone has a definitive answer on this. And unfortunately, you won't see the bill until you're back to the USA.

If you are determined to use Empower, etc, I would call TMO, *RECORD THE CALL* to get the rep on record as saying it covers all data usage.

FWIW, here's the best explanation I've seen about inconsistent answers from reps as well as for some people being charged and some not being charged for non-email data:

T Mobile (and other GSM carriers) allow, of course, phones from other networks to use their resources, and vice versa. This results in a periodic exchange of billing ("your user used 30 voice minutes and 1200 KB on my network, so you, TMO, owe me this much $").

Some carriers give TMO a very detailed bill ("out of your user's 1200 KB, 500 KB was web browsing, and 700 KB was blackberry mail data"). Now, some carriers do not give TMO a detailed breakdown, and therefore TMO does not know how to bill it to you. If you have the unlimited BB International Plan, you're covered. If you don't, you're screwed. If the other network gives TMO a detailed breakdown of your usage, then you owe the difference.

I can't verify this is accurate, but it would explain the different billing experiences among users, and also explain TMO's chronic inability to give any kind of definitive answer. Per my previous posting, I spoke to a rep that was 100% certain that it covered all data. Other people can't seem to get a rep who even knows what the hell this plan is all about, let alone what it covers.

I can say for sure that in November 2006, I was not charged for non-mail data usage under this plan. This was in Spain (can't remember which carriers I was on). Prior to getting my BB in '06, I did not dare to use data in Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, and various other Asian countries.

Can other folks post their experiences, specifically w/ T Mobile International Blackberry Data unlimited? Post the countries visited, network(s) accessed, and timeframes?




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