vB Easy Archive - Using a Blackberry without the Blackberry features

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Using a Blackberry without the Blackberry features - Possible?
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Posted by: greensubmariner

Hey peeps. Thanks for reading this.

I was wondering if it was possible to use a blackberry without subscribing to a blackberry plan. I only need to use it as a phone and to send text messages - that's it. No emails. I just wanted a keyboard. I found a 7290 which is quad band. It seems to fulfill my needs. What do you guys think? Is this possible or do I need a data plan to even do send messages (not email) and make calls?

Thanks muchy.
AL.

Posted by: Synncere

You can use a BlackBerry w/out a Blackberry data pack but only for voice, sms and its pda functions.
If that works for you then you're set. If you want to surf the web, send/recieve email and/or p2p you'll need a BlackBerry data pack through your service provider.

Posted by: greensubmariner

Great! Thanks! Not looking for anything fancy. Just want the bloody keyboard and there's only a limited number of phones which have this feature.

AL.

Posted by: mas90guru

Hey I saw this thread which brings up another question - does anyone know where the search button is on the forums. I was just wondering because I guess probably a lot of people ask this question. Never mind I'm too lazy to search for it so I'll just clutter the board up with another useless post.

Posted by: jmcmullen

Quote:

Originally Posted by greensubmariner

Hey peeps. Thanks for reading this.

I was wondering if it was possible to use a blackberry without subscribing to a blackberry plan. I only need to use it as a phone and to send text messages - that's it. No emails. I just wanted a keyboard. I found a 7290 which is quad band. It seems to fulfill my needs. What do you guys think? Is this possible or do I need a data plan to even do send messages (not email) and make calls?

Thanks muchy.
AL.

Yes it is very possible, just put your sim card in there and away you go. you will be able to do on the blackberry besides email, pinning, blackberry messager or anything that uses data thats all..

Posted by: Jack T. Chance

There's a lot of misinformation on this thread, so let me set the record straight as I've understood the situation to be.

As I understand it, NO carrier will let you use a BlackBerry without the associated BlackBerry data plan, because they've all signed agreements with RIM wherein they agreed to make sure that ALL customers using a BlackBerry were also signed up for a BB data plan.

This is something I heard back in 2005, however, so my info may be out of date. Perhaps things have changed since then, I just can't verify that they have.

Posted by: DINide

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

There's a lot of misinformation on this thread, so let me set the record straight as I've understood the situation to be.

As I understand it, NO carrier will let you use a BlackBerry without the associated BlackBerry data plan, because they've all signed agreements with RIM wherein they agreed to make sure that ALL customers using a BlackBerry were also signed up for a BB data plan.

This is something I heard back in 2005, however, so my info may be out of date. Perhaps things have changed since then, I just can't verify that they have.

that's what i thought. doesn't blackberry automatically tack on a data plan once the phone is activated?

Posted by: jmcmullen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

I don't know where you got your info at, but it is wrong.. RIM dosen't care why you buy blackberries as long as you are buying one.

There is nothing stoping someone from buying a blackberry just to use the keyboard for SMS or whatever reason they want it for.. They don't have to get a BB data plan if they don't want to.. Although if you as me it is pretty crazy to have a blackberry without a data plan

Posted by: gq_fuzion

on rogers... no blackberry plan = greater cost of device

Posted by: jmcmullen

of course without a data plan the blackberry is more.. On rogers the 8700 is only $100 bucks more, or $50 bucks more if you don't count the mail-in rebate..

3yr - $549.99 in store
$50 mail-in
$499 after rebate

no contact - $599

Posted by: greensubmariner

How will they know if I'm using a BB? Why can't I use a regular dataplan to access the web?

Posted by: jmcmullen

Quote:

Originally Posted by greensubmariner

How will they know if I'm using a BB? Why can't I use a regular dataplan to access the web?

With a blackberry you have to use a BB data plan. It is the only way to get data (emial, web, anything like that)

Posted by: dasupaman23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

I think this is only for IDEN networks. My gf has used a blackberry (7280 and 7290) for over a year and never had a data plan. She liked the BB because of the qwerty board for texting. GSM carriers or any carriers for that matter, will only try to convince you to add a data plan if you are just signing up. If you already have a voice plan, then you can just buy a BB on ebay and pop your SIM in and be ready to go. I know this is the case for Cingular and T-mobile.

Posted by: Bratan

You can also buy a BB device on eBay, put in your SIM card, and use it as phone only. That's what I do. No one is gonna hunt you down and make sign up for a BB plan

Posted by: hopetindall

After having asked this same question myself 4 months ago and watching countless others ask the same question.

This needs to be a STICKY

Posted by: Mr Pink57

Quote:

Originally Posted by greensubmariner

How will they know if I'm using a BB? Why can't I use a regular dataplan to access the web?

Blackberries use a BB VPN to access data features which basically goes thru RIM's servers that is why you have to have the BB plan to access all features off the device. Some including myself have been able to access web and use IM with a prepaid sim card.

pink

Posted by: hopetindall

Can you elaborate?

Is this a glitch? -- is there a BB APN provisioned on your account?

Posted by: candygogo

When I had the 7230 on T-Mobile, I didn't have to have a data plan/it wasn't automatically tacked on my account. Like someone else said, I used it mainly for voice calls, for the PIM features and the keyboard for sms. I didn't need the data plan as push email wasn't important. Now with Nextel, if you buy a 7250 (like Ihave) or a 7100i and place your sim card in it, you will be hit with a data plan after while. It's automatic, one of the reps confirmed it. However, I use a Boost sim in mine (have to get the sim activated in a Boost phone first in order to work) and while sms and push email is out, I can still use a 3rd party email program, the Nextel Online works and most other OTA things work.

Posted by: DINide

maybe it's just for nextel

Posted by: p_synthesis

Someone just gave me a blackberry 7100t. I using T-Mobile USA and on my Motorola v330, I have voice, a text package and unlimited t-zones.

I placed my sim into the 7100t and I have voice (reception is ok so far but I just got this yesterday so performance is still tbd), sms (keyboard will take some getting used to but should be fine), screen size, brightness and readability is excellent, the pim features/sychronization w/ Outlook via a USB cable is excelletn.

Only problem is no internet/wap. I'm still looking for a way but it looks like everyone is saying is that I will need to sign up for a BB plan to get any form of internet on the 7100t. The cheapest BB plan is $29.99 and I'm not willing to pay that just to be able to get full internet.

I'll continue to look for a way to get internet/wap to work on it, if unsuccessful, I'll probably just give this to one of my kids who just use the phone for voice and sms.

Posted by: dasupaman23

You won't be able to access any of the data features without the data plan. If you think $29.99 is alot, good thing you are not on Cingular where the same data plan is $45.99.

Posted by: Xeraux

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasupaman23

You won't be able to access any of the data features without the data plan. If you think $29.99 is alot, good thing you are not on Cingular where the same data plan is $45.99.

Yep... The $29.99 Unlimited Blackberry plan is the only reason I'm with T-Mobile.

Posted by: candygogo

Yea, if you use T-Mobile, there's no getting around a data plan for your blackberry if you want web/wap capability.

Posted by: p_synthesis

Oh, well. Pity, the screen is pretty good. Looks like my daughter is going to enjoy this. Thanks for the info!

Posted by: GregGebhardt

It is possible that only Nextel adds the plan without your permission but it does happen as I had a friend who the 5mb BB plan appeared on his 2nd bill.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregGebhardt

It is possible that only Nextel adds the plan without your permission but it does happen as I had a friend who the 5mb BB plan appeared on his 2nd bill.

Yea, I only know of Nextel doing that. Like I mentioned, T-Mobile doesn't and I don't know about Cingular or Verizon.

Posted by: Ericboo

I had my BB service turned off last night and am still using my 7100i as a phone. They confirmed I could do that, and that was before they knew I was going to order a flip phone to replace it. I was told I could just use the 7100i for phone.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ericboo

I had my BB service turned off last night and am still using my 7100i as a phone. They confirmed I could do that, and that was before they knew I was going to order a flip phone to replace it. I was told I could just use the 7100i for phone.

I guess every rep is different.

I only spoke to one rep and was told about the automatic BB data plan. I have the SERO plan and wanted to switch sims from my bb7520 and i860-the plan includes unlimited mms and I can't take advantage of it on the BB. Oh well...

Posted by: crashnburn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

I am using one w/o a BB Data Plan. Bought the BB from Ebay

Posted by: madmarvcr

I use a BB 7520 with a Boost prepaid SIM with the $0.20/day unlimited wireless web option. and no BB plan. there is no SMS, no PUSH email, No PIN messaging.

Other than that, full data works
. I use,
Gmail for Blackberries, all email now forwarded to Gmail account
Opera Mini for web browsing
VeriChat for IM
jmIRC for IRC client
Google Local
HelloWorld (GPS Mapping)

Posted by: madmarvcr

I forgot to add, most newer 3rd party apps have settings to use direct TCP and bypass BES/MDS.

Posted by: crashnburn

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmarvcr

I forgot to add, most newer 3rd party apps have settings to use direct TCP and bypass BES/MDS.

Elaborate?

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmarvcr

I use a BB 7520 with a Boost prepaid SIM with the $0.20/day unlimited wireless web option. and no BB plan. there is no SMS, no PUSH email, No PIN messaging.

Other than that, full data works
. I use,
Gmail for Blackberries, all email now forwarded to Gmail account
Opera Mini for web browsing
VeriChat for IM
jmIRC for IRC client
Google Local
HelloWorld (GPS Mapping)

I have the same setup (use some of the software you've mentioned and others), but I don't add the Boost 20 cents/day interent. I rarely have problems accessing web/wap sites. I've been having trouble using Avantgo and wonder if my not having the Boost internet is the problem.

Posted by: madmarvcr

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

Elaborate?

for example

Ramble IM has a setting option where you pick either Use MDS TCP or Use Device TCP

BBWeather has a checkbox to disable MDS Proxy

I think Verchat when it is first installed searches for a network path

Shapeservices apps, search for a network path when the apps are installed

What I have found if you dont have a BB plan is to dump as many Service Books as possible. On the BB 7520 i have 5 Service Books

WAP transport
WAP Browser
Desktop [CICAL]
Desktop [CMIME]
Blackberry Browser

with so few Service Books, this essentially forces all the 3rd part apps to use native TCP.

Eventually I am going to try and hack a 7290 blackberry with a Prepaid GSM sim, if the prepaid packet data prices ever come down

T-Mobile prepaid SIM for sidekick data is like $1/day, thats $30/month
a T-mobile unlimited BB plan is $29.99 a month.
Cingular prepaid SIM packet data is like $0.01/kb ...just based on my recent data usage, that would be $4/day doing the same thing with a Cingular prepaid SIM

Posted by: setec

So, on Nextel, a BB without a data plan would work for phone AND Walkie-Talkie as well? I am assuming this would be yes. I have Verizon with a Treo 700w and after I get done shooting it, I am switching back to Nextel.

Posted by: Dreaderus

btw at least on our network, if you do not have a data plan, due to it searching for the rim servers, if you do not use your rim for a while u will without a doubt, miss all incoming calls going straight to voicemail. other symptoms have included delayed text messages

Dreaderus

Posted by: madmarvcr

Quote:

Originally Posted by setec

So, on Nextel, a BB without a data plan would work for phone AND Walkie-Talkie as well? I am assuming this would be yes. I have Verizon with a Treo 700w and after I get done shooting it, I am switching back to Nextel.

At least on my BB 7520 without a BB data plan, phone and walkie-talkie still work.

Posted by: lil_nikk

Any body know how to get Data connection refused off the top header of the BB when only using it for voice/pda purposes?

Posted by: live2serve

I use a BB 7100t on tmobile I got off ebay. Just use it as a phone and txt messenger. No data plan whatsoever! No RIM guys in black suits pounding down my door either!

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_nikk

Any body know how to get Data connection refused off the top header of the BB when only using it for voice/pda purposes?

I don't think it's possible. One of my neighbors uses the 8700r w/out a data plan asked me the same question the other day as sometimes the data connection refused message will go away for a little bit on his BlackBerry but it always returns.

Posted by: live2serve

Yeah it can't be done. That is displayed because your SIM does not have a data plan set up on it and when ever the BB tries to connect to the Tmobile data network it is refused. If you ever did get a data plan that would go away and the gprs letters on the screen would become GPRS(All in caps) Just a minor annoyance really.

Posted by: L Bo

I myself use a 7100i at work for just DC and phone. I cant send sms, mms, browse the net or emails, but it works just fine otherwise. I like it cause of the bluetooth and accurate phone log. It keeps track of EVERY call (including DC's) which is good for me to show how often I need to speak to people every time I try to call them and I cant reach them.

(hocks a loogie into hands, rubs them together)...this thread is now stuck!

Posted by: setec

I ordered my 7100i online for a new Nextel account on 04/28/06. I got my phone on 05/01/06. I called to activate it. I had picked a data plan online when ordering. However, with the activation guy, I switched rate plans. Well, since he is just for activation, he never added my data plan. So, when I goto blackberry support, they realized that I had no data plan. They didn't know how this was possible because they are not supposed to let me do that. Now, I want a data plan, but if you guys don't with a blackberry (use it for phone, DC and PDA) then maybe this little fluke will work for you. Just wanted to share this.

Posted by: hillstrubl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

There's a lot of misinformation on this thread, so let me set the record straight as I've understood the situation to be.
As I understand it, NO carrier will let you use a BlackBerry without the associated BlackBerry data plan, because they've all signed agreements with RIM wherein they agreed to make sure that ALL customers using a BlackBerry were also signed up for a BB data plan.
This is something I heard back in 2005, however, so my info may be out of date. Perhaps things have changed since then, I just can't verify that they have.

not true, nextel is apparently the only one that doesnt allow that, GSM carriers by definition dont usually care what phone is being used by what SIM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcmullen

I don't know where you got your info at, but it is wrong.. RIM dosen't care why you buy blackberries as long as you are buying one.
There is nothing stoping someone from buying a blakberry just to use the keyboard for SMS or whatever reason they want it for.. They don't have to get a BB data plan if they don't want to.. Although if you as me it is pretty crazy to have a blackberry without a data plan

correct, the sale of the handset to the carrier is where RIM makes their money, although SOME revenue can be traced to the actual data plan with the carrier, but not much

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopetindall

After having asked this same question myself 4 months ago and watching countless others ask the same question.
This needs to be a STICKY

it seems like common sense, im not sure why it needs to be a sticky.
except for CDMA carriers where your ESN (IMEI for GSM) is directly linked to your service account, what phone you're using (keep in mind, below it all a BB is jsut another type of phone) doesnt matter to the carriers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmarvcr

for example
Ramble IM has a setting option where you pick either Use MDS TCP or Use Device TCP
BBWeather has a checkbox to disable MDS Proxy
I think Verchat when it is first installed searches for a network path
Shapeservices apps, search for a network path when the apps are installed
What I have found if you dont have a BB plan is to dump as many Service Books as possible. On the BB 7520 i have 5 Service Books
WAP transport
WAP Browser
Desktop [CICAL]
Desktop [CMIME]
Blackberry Browser
with so few Service Books, this essentially forces all the 3rd part apps to use native TCP.
Eventually I am going to try and hack a 7290 blackberry with a Prepaid GSM sim, if the prepaid packet data prices ever come down
T-Mobile prepaid SIM for sidekick data is like $1/day, thats $30/month
a T-mobile unlimited BB plan is $29.99 a month.
Cingular prepaid SIM packet data is like $0.01/kb ...just based on my recent data usage, that would be $4/day doing the same thing with a Cingular prepaid SIM

if you somehow got a GSM bb to get data without a blackberry plan thats pretty rare. Also, a t-mobile sidekick SIM (of any kind, post or prepaid) will NOT work in a BB. This is because like a BB, a Sidekick plan uses a dedicated APN

Posted by: kengo

I use an ex-tmobile 7230 and 7290 in Singapore with a pre-paid Singtel card (phone, sms, pda all work fine). I needed to have t-mobile unlock the phones in order to accept 3rd party SIM cards; otherwise they didn't work. So, yes, you can use the blackberry without a data plan, but you might need to have it unlocked first depending upon the network.

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally Posted by kengo

I use an ex-tmobile 7230 and 7290 in Singapore with a pre-paid Singtel card (phone, sms, pda all work fine). I needed to have t-mobile unlock the phones in order to accept 3rd party SIM cards; otherwise they didn't work. So, yes, you can use the blackberry without a data plan, but you might need to have it unlocked first depending upon the network.

BlackBerry will obviously work for voice and sms w/out data plan... it's when you want to send/recieve email, p2p, use web browser, etc... that'll you need a BlackBerry data pack from your service provider. I know some people who use GSM BlackBerries w/out data plans in Canada and the U.S. Having said that I have heard of some CDMA providers that won't let someone use a BlackBerry unless they have a data pack on their account.

Posted by: toozerosickz

I didn't see a direct answer so I'll ask away. Can I use AIM on a 8700G with no data plan? Can I change a setting on Ramble IM to make it so I can?

Posted by: Synncere

^

You need a data pack to use an instant messaging client as it works off of data.

Posted by: wmf1489

You DO NOT need a blackberry data plan.
i bought a 7100t off ebay, stuck my prepaid sim card in, and im using it as a phone.

Posted by: Synncere

^

Yes it will work as a phone but not for data usage.

Posted by: Whobutdee

The data plan is worth the money trust me. I likes a lot

Posted by: Andy_q

Just a quick question in regards to using a bb with out the bb data plan, I too want to get one a 7100i to use as phone dc and pda, would i be able to use a wap program such as tekin or others out there i already have a data plan on my 860 so i'm hoping my 860 sim works on the 7100i.

Posted by: hillstrubl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_q

Just a quick question in regards to using a bb with out the bb data plan, I too want to get one a 7100i to use as phone dc and pda, would i be able to use a wap program such as tekin or others out there i already have a data plan on my 860 so i'm hoping my 860 sim works on the 7100i.

no blackberry will work with any provider without a BLACKBERRY data plan. its different than any other plan as it allows access to RIM's servers which is needed for ANY blackberry to access data.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillstrubl

no blackberry will work with any provider without a BLACKBERRY data plan. its different than any other plan as it allows access to RIM's servers which is needed for ANY blackberry to access data.

If you're talking about using BB push email and such, then you do need a BB plan. However, if you're using a Nextel BB (at least the 7520, I don't know about the 7100i) you can have access to nearly all data (not push email or sms) with a Boost Mobile sim card. For email, you'd have to purchase an email client but text is out the window.

So basically, if you depend on push email, text and 100% data, then there's no going around getting a plan. Depending on carrier, you can use the BB as a phone/pda only (with T-Mobile). Nextel will automatically add the plan to your BB. Boost Mobile is mainly like Nextel prepaid, and using their sim (must renew every 3 months for at least $20) in a BB works, just a bit limited. Don't know how Cingular or Verizon's policies are.

Posted by: smclean23

i have a 7100i and i am not able to receive or send sms text messages...how will i be able to do that w/o the data plan?

Posted by: mousehunt

Can you get a Blackberry or Treo without cellular phone service? I have a supervisor who wants a Blackberry or Treo to check email, surf the web, and text message but doesn't need to use it as a phone. If not, what would you recommend using? I've looked a little at the Tungsten and Axim, but heard that Axim was going to be discontinued.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by smclean23

i have a 7100i and i am not able to receive or send sms text messages...how will i be able to do that w/o the data plan?

You can't without a data plan. Like I mentioned before, if sending sms and receiving push email is important, then (on Nextel anyway-with T-Mobile sms can be sent and received at the 5cents/msg) you need the data plan. If all you want is email, using a Nextel BB with a Boost sim and getting an email client isn't a problem.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousehunt

Can you get a Blackberry or Treo without cellular phone service? I have a supervisor who wants a Blackberry or Treo to check email, surf the web, and text message but doesn't need to use it as a phone. If not, what would you recommend using? I've looked a little at the Tungsten and Axim, but heard that Axim was going to be discontinued.

I believe Nextel has a plan that's just for data on their BB. It's something like $45/mo.

Posted by: CaptainScarlet

I have my BB 7100g with Cingular.I have no plan with BB ,i only use the phone for calls and sms.

Posted by: BenMarvin

Quote:

Originally Posted by toozerosickz

I didn't see a direct answer so I'll ask away. Can I use AIM on a 8700G with no data plan? Can I change a setting on Ramble IM to make it so I can?

On T-Mobile...it's actually a catch 22. You would need a data plan to download their IM client. But you wouldn't need a data plan to use it, just a text messaging plan. The client uses SMS to send messages. I recommend the unlimited plan.

Posted by: hillstrubl

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMarvin

thats weird, because i actually tried that. I tried a non-BB SIM in my (former) 7100t and attempted to sign on the sms based IM client (it had already downloaded with the the BB SIM normally in it). No Dice. While it does use 3 SMS's to sign on (1 saying sign on, 1 loading hte buddy list and 1 i have no idea) it seems to ALSO use BB data...
just a word of warning...

-D

Posted by: BenMarvin

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillstrubl

Good to know. Thanks for the info. Not a problem for me, since I will always have the data plan... But I'll try not to spread unconfirmed information.

Posted by: Skaorsk8

I currently have a BB 7130 as my personal phone on Verizon Wireless, WITHOUT a data plan. When I activated the phone, I declined a plan, and they added it anyway. I called up and sorted it out.

It works for being a phone, syncing with Outlook, text messages, and THAT'S IT. I wish I could get some ringtones on there ... any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks.

Posted by: potatocouch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synncere

You can use a BlackBerry w/out a Blackberry data pack but only for voice, sms and its pda functions.
If that works for you then you're set. If you want to surf the web, send/recieve email and/or p2p you'll need a BlackBerry data pack through your service provider.

You do not need a blackberry plan to surf anything ... but a 3rd party software and your set.... then you'll be able to check your email and reply
.. the only thing you'll need blackberry is for email, but compare the price with nextel unlimited phone data for 15.00 , compared to 49.00 unlimted data and email there's no comparsing

Posted by: potatocouch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

this thread is the misinformation .... LMFAO

Posted by: razorsharp510

So what if i have already have unlimited medianet... I used it on my treo and 8125 and i just got the 8700c... i cant use my data on it?...cuz i cant find a web browser... if i cant.. then wat a gipp! or is there a web browser and i just dont know how to use it?... i didnt get the BB cd or instruction book...

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally Posted by potatocouch

Maybe for Nextel in the U.S. but here in Canada w/ Rogers Wireless it's impossible.

Posted by: razorsharp510

which 3rd party software do i need?

Posted by: potatocouch

Quote:

Originally Posted by razorsharp510

which 3rd party software do i need?

minuet sells a browser thats nice . check it @ handango.com . I also use im+, for instant message, check out pocketday pro that kicks ***..

Posted by: doughboy359

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bratan

You can also buy a BB device on eBay, put in your SIM card, and use it as phone only. That's what I do. No one is gonna hunt you down and make sign up for a BB plan

can you put one of those prepaid to go sim cards in a blackberry 7100t?

and also,does anyone know how to take off the wireless motorola headset option if the phone was once linked with that type of headset.i just want to use it as a reg phone and talk thre speaker port..

Posted by: stufried

There is an archived thread on blackberryforums.com called byo blackberry where someone got a blackberry working on a standard GPRS account for data and a corporate BES account for Blackberry service. I think this door has been largely closed but I just learned that it ever existed so I don't want to venture.

http://blackberryforums.com/archive....php/t-192.html

Posted by: iav122003

All that can be done is the following:

1) Get a GSM Blackberry device (you pick the model), pop in your SIM if you have one, and enjoy the SMS/MMS full QWERTY keyboard goodness.

2) Cry because VZW and Nextel probably don't let you activate without an associated BB data plan.

At the moment, I have a Nextel 7520 for data and a Motorola MPx220 for voice.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by iav122003

All that can be done is the following:

1) Get a GSM Blackberry device (you pick the model), pop in your SIM if you have one, and enjoy the SMS/MMS full QWERTY keyboard goodness.

2) Cry because VZW and Nextel probably don't let you activate without an associated BB data plan.

At the moment, I have a Nextel 7520 for data and a Motorola MPx220 for voice.

I can vouch for T-Mo and Nextel. A rep at Nextel told me that a BB plan will be automatically added to a 7520 or 7100i. As for T-Mo, no plan is added. I had the 7230.

Posted by: chbak014

Quote:

Originally Posted by mas90guru

Hey I saw this thread which brings up another question - does anyone know where the search button is on the forums. I was just wondering because I guess probably a lot of people ask this question. Never mind I'm too lazy to search for it so I'll just clutter the board up with another useless post.

stop being a t\/\/AT. acccounting dork.

Posted by: iav122003

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillstrubl

not true, nextel is apparently the only one that doesnt allow that, GSM carriers by definition dont usually care what phone is being used by what SIM.

Bah.

I use know people that use Boost Mobile prepaid SIMs on Nextel 7520 BB's.

On a regular basis. Works like a lucky charm.

Posted by: azcactus

OK, I'm new to BB but here's what (I think) I understand.

Older BB devices only had MDS for data services. Therefore, *all* data (mail, web, etc.) needed to hook to the BES (or, now, BIS) for data. Voice would be OK without it.

Newer BBs (7130, 8700) have a TCP/IP stack, and can therefore access WAN data without BES, but you may need BES to download your apps in the first place.

So, you could sign up for a BB plan for a month, get Opera and the rest of your clients, then cancel the BB plan and just get a data plan. BlackBerry apps won't work, but your 3rd party apps should function.

Can anyone confirm this?

Posted by: yellow101

For all of us in Canada using the Rogers GMS network I can say it is possible to just use a BB as a phone. This is what I am doing it right now. Even though my phone plan allows me to surf the internet, but the rate is just like robbery, even sending txt messages cost 15 cents per pop. When I first start my BB, I declined all data connection, just to be safe. This refurb BB I have is much cheaper than replacing my dead phone with one from Rogers, plus it is unlocked. Too bad I still have 2 years contract with them.

Posted by: dencha

I read through all six pages of this thread and my question I had haven't (in all) been answered

If I buy a BB 7100i and put in my Nextel sim card (yellow) into it will I be able to

[Without a NEXTEL DATA PLAN]
(1) Make DC (Direct Connect)
(2) Make Calls
(3) Send SMS (text messages)
(4) Use phone as a PDA

I notice take Nextel offer a these Data Plan if I tend to used the BB 7100i for MultiMedia Messaging

Nextel Data Ultimate Pack
$20.00/month - Unlimited image/audio messages, Pay-As-You-Go Text Messaging

Nextel Data Plus Pack
$15.00/month - 100 image/audio messages, Pay-As-You-Go Text Messaging

Nextel Data Access Pack
$10.00/month - Pay-As-You-Go image/audio messages, Pay-As-You-Go Text Messaging

Posted by: flipnf3rno

Quote:

Originally Posted by dencha

I read through all six pages of this thread and my question I had haven't (in all) been answered

If I buy a BB 7100i and put in my Nextel sim card (yellow) into it will I be able to

[Without a NEXTEL DATA PLAN]
(1) Make DC (Direct Connect)
(2) Make Calls
(3) Send SMS (text messages)
(4) Use phone as a PDA

I notice take Nextel offer a these Data Plan if I tend to used the BB 7100i for MultiMedia Messaging

Nextel Data Ultimate Pack
$20.00/month - Unlimited image/audio messages, Pay-As-You-Go Text Messaging

Nextel Data Plus Pack
$15.00/month - 100 image/audio messages, Pay-As-You-Go Text Messaging

Nextel Data Access Pack
$10.00/month - Pay-As-You-Go image/audio messages, Pay-As-You-Go Text Messaging

Most of this is possible. I currently have the 7100i without the BB Data Plan. I am able to make/receive calls, make/receive dc calls, and use as a pda. I am even able to run Opera Mini and go on the web. I am currently on the Pay As You Go Data Plan, but I am planning on getting the $10.00 Nextel Data Access Pack. I still cannot send and receive text. Does anybody know how I can enable this? This is the last feature that I need.

Posted by: iav122003

*confused*

Posted by: dencha

Bring up the question again

Can I use the BB 7100i if I pop in my sim card into it?

Can I (w/out Data Plan)....

(1) DC
(2) Use it as a PDA

Please I need a straight foward answer

YES to ALL or NO

Thanks in advance!!

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by dencha

Bring up the question again

Can I use the BB 7100i if I pop in my sim card into it?

Can I (w/out Data Plan)....

(1) DC
(2) Use it as a PDA

Please I need a straight foward answer

YES to ALL or NO

Thanks in advance!!

This is from my use with T-Mobile and Nextel/Boost:

T-Mobile Blackberries-You do not need to sign up for a plan with them. However, you will not have data access without a plan. You can send/receive sms and use it as a phone and pda only without the plan. The plan is about $20/mo

IDEN Blackberries
Nextel-A Blackberry plan will automatically be added to your account when you activate a Blackberry. You will not be able to use the BB without the plan, a rep has confirmed this. Depending on employee discounts, plans (for a limited time) can start as low as $20/mo but is mainly $40/mo. DC is not connected to a data plan as it's seperate. DC plans are usually in the voice plans (unlimited local and/or unlimted nationwide DC) but there are some voice plans that don't include DC. With emplyee discouts, you cna get unlimted local and nationwide DC.

Boost Mobile (Prepaid Nextel service)-You an use a Boost sim in a Blackberry, but you must have the sim activated on a Boost phone. Afterwards, the phone will have "Nextel" on the screen. You do not have to have BB plan as this is on a Boost account and not Nextel. However, you will not be able to send/receive sms. A good 90% of the data (NOL or Nextel Online) will work. You will need an 3rd party email program in order to receive email (unless you use the AOL or Yahoo portal for email). DC works, but as it's on a Boost account you will be either charged the $1/day rate or have unlimited if signed up to their Ultimate Plan.

Posted by: flipnf3rno

Quote:

Originally Posted by dencha

Yes. I am doing this now.

Posted by: dencha

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipnf3rno

Yes. I am doing this now.

Did Nextel automatically add a Data Plan to your account?

I just want to pop in my old sim card into the BB and used it like I always do which is DC and if possible use the BB as a PDA, don't really care about SMS or Email....but maybe surfing the net, but not really...but if i could that would be great!!

Posted by: doughboy359

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bratan

You can also buy a BB device on eBay, put in your SIM card, and use it as phone only. That's what I do. No one is gonna hunt you down and make sign up for a BB plan

a friend gave me a blackberry 7100 t,but i tried to put a cingular prepaid sim in it,but it said"incorrect sim" can i put a boost mobile sim in it to make it work? or how do i make a cingular prepaid sim work in it. hell if i cant get it to work,ill sell the 7100t to anyone on here with right offer

Posted by: flipnf3rno

Quote:

Originally Posted by dencha

It has only been a month and they have not added the data plan. I did add the Data Pack Plan with unlimited data for $10.00. With this I can use the Opera Mini Browser and go on the net.

Posted by: Bratan

You have to unlock the 7100t first. If you have T-mobile, you can call them and they'll give you the code for free. Otherwise, you can pay to have in unlocked.

Posted by: jamesoja

so on tmobile can a user just add 4.99 tzones and surf the web, phone, pda and sms with added text plan? No bb plan required if not using push email, is this correct?

Posted by: p_synthesis

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesoja

so on tmobile can a user just add 4.99 tzones and surf the web, phone, pda and sms with added text plan? No bb plan required if not using push email, is this correct?

That isn't correct. On T-mobile, if you have a Blackberry, you can use it for voice and SMS only. You will not be able to access the internet with the $4.99 tzones add-on. Only way to get on the internet is via a Blackberry plan.

Of course, you can use the PDA functions of your Blackberry, e.g. sync with PC (direct connect and not over the air), etc.

Posted by: jamesoja

Thank you for the clarification!

Posted by: stevefg420

I have been reading this and I'm LMAO. If you buy a blackberry you CAN use it as phone with no internet or you can have internet and NO phone or you can have both. Nextel does not and I will repeat Nextel does not tack on a BB plan to your bill never has and nerver will. Plus the data plans for $20.00 $15.00 and $10.00 are not for the blackberry they are for the internet ready Phones not blackberry. The blackberry plans start (from nextel) 5mb for 30 somthing and the unlimited for 40 somthing.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevefg420

I have been reading this and I'm LMAO. If you buy a blackberry you CAN use it as phone with no internet or you can have internet and NO phone or you can have both. Nextel does not and I will repeat Nextel does not tack on a BB plan to your bill never has and nerver will. Plus the data plans for $20.00 $15.00 and $10.00 are not for the blackberry they are for the internet ready Phones not blackberry. The blackberry plans start (from nextel) 5mb for 30 somthing and the unlimited for 40 somthing.

Mayvbe different reps tell different stories because back in Feb a rep insisted that a BB plan would automatically be added to any BB on Nextel. Maybe not that second, or even the next day, but shortly a plan will placed on.

Posted by: bostonirishguy

I have the option of picking up a used BB for use with Cingular. I already have the unlimited MediaNet plan, but no BB plan. Can I use the BB to pull POP and IMAP without a BB plan?

Posted by: stevefg420

I'm not going to get into this, but I have been with Nextel for 3 years and they just don't do that.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevefg420

I'm not going to get into this, but I have been with Nextel for 3 years and they just don't do that.

Like I said, I'm just repeating what a rep told me, so maybe she gave me wrong info I dunno. I never used a Nextel sim in my Blackberry to find out.

Posted by: zad225

I just bought a Nextel BB 6510 from Ebay just to try out my Nextel Sim with it and it's not working for me. There seems to be a SIM card error. I have the newer 600 contact SIM card. Could this be the reason? Since the 6510 is such an old model. Also, I checked the messages and I received a message that my handheld was registered with Nextel. I hope I'm not going to be charged the extra for the BB plan in that case. But I can't see how that could be the case, since it seems like the phone couldn't even read my sim card.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally Posted by zad225

I just bought a Nextel BB 6510 from Ebay just to try out my Nextel Sim with it and it's not working for me. There seems to be a SIM card error. I have the newer 600 contact SIM card. Could this be the reason? Since the 6510 is such an old model. Also, I checked the messages and I received a message that my handheld was registered with Nextel. I hope I'm not going to be charged the extra for the BB plan in that case. But I can't see how that could be the case, since it seems like the phone couldn't even read my sim card.

Nah, if you just placed the sim in the BB and it didn't work, thenyou won't get charged. I've used a Boost Mobile sim in a BB and it registered to the Nextel network as well. You're good, just prob have to get a newer type BB model.

Posted by: thoughtmage

You can use the BB without a plan but every carrier is required to add a BB plan to every BB phone. It's just a contract thing.

Posted by: mattdahack

thanks everyone that makes since and answers my questions :-)

Posted by: SILICONRACER

UP till now, there hasn't been a straight answer on whether MediaNet from Cingular can be used on a blackberry.

Posted by: rambo47

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostonirishguy

I have the option of picking up a used BB for use with Cingular. I already have the unlimited MediaNet plan, but no BB plan. Can I use the BB to pull POP and IMAP without a BB plan?

No. No Blackberry data plan, no data services. No email, no web. SMS and voice don't use data so they're part of the basic phone minutes plan. But everything else is data.

Posted by: bishead

I purchased a used Nextel BB 7100i from EBay. I put in my Sim Card from my i730 and I’m able to receive, make calls and direct connect. I did have an internet plan with the i730 and was able to surf the internet. Using the 7100i, I do not see any browser icon (NOL). Do I still have access to the net?

Posted by: rambo47

NO BLACKBERRY DATA PLAN, NO DATA SERVICES! Holy ****, does anybody pay attention?!!

Posted by: bishead

Yes, we are paying attention, but the facts are showing something different….

Provider and Phone: Nextel 7100i
No BB Data Plan and the 7100i phone is not registered with Nextel

I swapped the Sim Card from my registered i530 into the 7100i and I’m not able to receive any text messages, or web data. If I put the Sim Card from my registered i760, in the 7100i. I’m able to receive and sent text messages, surf the internet and received data using software PocketDay and Minuet installed on the 7100i.

So why am I able to do this with the i760 Sim Card and not with the i530 Sim Card? Both cards have the same plan from Nextel. Also if I switch the Sim Cards in each other phone (i530 and i760) all services work on each phone.

Posted by: ymarks

I have a BB 8100 with Cingular Prepaid pay as you go. I called up cingular and asked them to enable my MediaNet/wap. The first rep I spoke to told me that it is not possible on prepaid accts. I called back and spoke to a different rep who said that I am able to get WAP and did indeed activate it. I changed my TCP to the cingular settings (make sure you use all caps for the username and pass- it didnt work when I used lowecase) and d/l opera mini as desktop files and transfered them to my BB- presto - WAP worked. So does ramble AIM client. Once in a while I get a message pop up when using the browser saying- "General Service error- supplimentary error"
but other then that it works fine.

Posted by: RemyX

Hey there, i have t-mobile and was wondering where do u get the password and username? Can u send picture messages with no problem? cause it seems that u need the internet plan to send pic msg's and i have 2 of them on a family plan and 20.00 for each just to send pics is a lot of money. Thanks in advance.

Posted by: r3booky

I'm no expert, but I just spend over an over talking to Tmobile about the BB Pearls I got in a family plan. I didn't want any BB plan, just the Family Messaging to send pictures and voice messages. Turns out it can't be done. They said that any MMS must go through their data connection, and to use their data connection you must have a BB plan, and on top of that the Family Messaging plan. So it would be another $60 just to be able to send pictures....Totally dumb. I'm sure there is a way in which they can control the type of data that passes, whether it is internet, email, or mms. I just send back this morning...Loved the phone but didn't see need for everything else in the BB plan.

Posted by: RemyX

thats the same situation im in. Got 2 pearls and the messaging plan. I think it's dumb that RIM is trying to go after the consumer market with this new pearl but you need the 20.00 if u want to send pictures. They should allow at least the MMS to go through regular GPRS or EDGE.

Posted by: rambo47

If you're getting the BB for pictures but don't want the BB data plan you'd probably be much happier with something like the Samsung T509. Unless you just want the Blackberry to have the latest techno-bling.

Posted by: RemyX

Well the pearl really isnt the latest techno bling. It's features are just average. I just got them for the fact that they were 50 bucks each and better than anything on t-mobiles line up. I'm just gonna sell them and get better unlocked phones. I would keep them if it wasnt for the MMS stopping me and hold up until something like the N95. But oh well. Thanks though.

Posted by: ymarks

Quote:

Originally Posted by ymarks

I have a BB 8100 with Cingular Prepaid pay as you go. I called up cingular and asked them to enable my MediaNet/wap. The first rep I spoke to told me that it is not possible on prepaid accts. I called back and spoke to a different rep who said that I am able to get WAP and did indeed activate it. I changed my TCP to the cingular settings (make sure you use all caps for the username and pass- it didnt work when I used lowecase) and d/l opera mini as desktop files and transfered them to my BB- presto - WAP worked. So does ramble AIM client. Once in a while I get a message pop up when using the browser saying- "General Service error- supplimentary error"
but other then that it works fine.

***UPDATE***
Actually- This works on and off. I'm not sure why. Anyone have any info?

Posted by: solo118

just got the pearl, the guy who sold it to me told me not to put my sim card in bec cingular will start charging me for data usage wtf?? i didnt activate my bb yet bec im still undecided if i just want to use it as a phone i wont really need the emails

Posted by: BlitzSix

Quote:

Originally Posted by RemyX

Well the pearl really isnt the latest techno bling. It's features are just average. I just got them for the fact that they were 50 bucks each and better than anything on t-mobiles line up. I'm just gonna sell them and get better unlocked phones. I would keep them if it wasnt for the MMS stopping me and hold up until something like the N95. But oh well. Thanks though.

How the hell did you get it for 50 bucks ?

Posted by: EDF587

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishead

Yes, we are paying attention, but the facts are showing something different….

Provider and Phone: Nextel 7100i
No BB Data Plan and the 7100i phone is not registered with Nextel

I swapped the Sim Card from my registered i530 into the 7100i and I’m not able to receive any text messages, or web data. If I put the Sim Card from my registered i760, in the 7100i. I’m able to receive and sent text messages, surf the internet and received data using software PocketDay and Minuet installed on the 7100i.

So why am I able to do this with the i760 Sim Card and not with the i530 Sim Card? Both cards have the same plan from Nextel. Also if I switch the Sim Cards in each other phone (i530 and i760) all services work on each phone.

They use different SIM cards.

Posted by: pcasey

First I'd like to say my wife is a Sprint/Nextel employee and I have an employee plan. My wife just got a BB 7100, I have an i860, I took her old BB 7510 and inserted my SIM. So far I was able to connect to the net. Not through the Blackberry Browser but by going to the Nextel portal and getting Opera Mini. She said (as far as she knew) the only feature I will not be able to access is pushing e-mail and the Blackberry Web (which I have just tested and is correct.)
Basically this means you can use a regular Nextel Data plan as you would on a regular Nextal phone. If you get the correct apps you can pretty much do anything. I have my i860 setup with almost as many features as my wife's BB.
As far as any cell phone company adding a Data package to your plan sounds illegal. You are not signing for that service and unless you went with some fly by night company to get your phone through it just doesn't seem possible. I will be the first to admit that reps don't always know the answer and will tell you things that sound right just to save their butt.

Posted by: rudy510

hey madmarvcr,

I heard you were the boost blackberry guru. Please help if you can.....

I have a bb 7100i with boost prepaid. No data plan. Im using it for dc/phone right now. I want to load opera mini.

I just loaded opera mini on my 7100i. A little problem i ran into. I got it installed but I can connect with the internet.
When i click on the opera icon and test the network for connection it pops with an error. it says "There was a problem with connecting. There might be a problem with your network setup. Please go to Tools> Help> Introduction and perform the connection test. (error: 3.0.10:80/).

I tried going to options > advanced options > tcp, but i dont have this option cause theres no data plan.

What steps did you take to setup opera mini on your boost bb?

Thanks!

Posted by: rambo47

I don't think internet is possible on a Blackberry without a dedicated Blackberry data plan.

Posted by: red.octane.aero

Nope...wont happen.

Posted by: dencha

Question.....

I have a "yellow sim card" in my i830, planning to purchase a 7100i. Will the sim card work in that phone....I just need it to make calls, PTT, and SMS....

please let me know
thanks

Posted by: ewelch@gia.edu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

A friend of mine just got a Blackberry Pearl a couple weeks ago and she doesn't have a Blackberry plan associated with it. Things must have changed since 2005. (Big suprise!

)

Posted by: sanglee

I just got off the phone with Verizon and they would NOT let me remove the data plan from my account UNLESS I was able to activate a non BB device at the same time. He said 1) RIM and Verizon have a contractual obligation that make them require a BB dataplan on all BB devices activated on the VZW network, 2) the BB device will request data packets constantly which will skyrocket my monthly bill, and 3) there is no way in his "system" to be able to remove just the data plan.

Now granted, I sure there's a way to remove the entire plan and add something else w/o data from the get-go. Remember that his is Verizon -- which is CDMA and does not use SIM cards.

Just thought that I would shared.

Posted by: dutsukyampu

this thread seems a little confusing..with some people saying it is possible to use a BB without a plan..and some people saying that you do..
i want to buy a blackberry 8700.. but only plan on using it for a phone and SMS.
does cingular require you to have a blackberry plan? or can i just use it for voice and SMS?

Posted by: apollovm

My question would be if one can sync email with the usb cable, if we don't have the blackberry service on the line? So to re-phrase - no BB data plan and just a phone plan.
THanks.

Posted by: r3booky

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutsukyampu

this thread seems a little confusing..with some people saying it is possible to use a BB without a plan..and some people saying that you do..
i want to buy a blackberry 8700.. but only plan on using it for a phone and SMS.
does cingular require you to have a blackberry plan? or can i just use it for voice and SMS?

I don't know about the 8700 & cingular, but for the 8100 (pearl and t-mobile), you can use all the phone functions and some of the pda functions WITHOUT a BB plan. This includes text messaging. However, MMS (picture, video... messaging) requires a data plan, so the 8100 requires the BB plan.

I find it silly, since other phones that don't have data plans, like the RAZR, can send MMS and SMS-almost like if they were phone functions not pda functions. Therefore, buying MMS is not enough to be able to send pictures on the 8100, you'll still need to buy the BB plan. I call that double dipping. I asked if the BB plan included all messaging and I was told no, only internet and email services. If I wanted to send SMS or MMS, that would be extra. So I returned them. I'll just wait for another smartphone that doesn't require extra fees to use.

Posted by: sanglee

Well...we all know how F'ed up Verizon Wireless is with their Bluetooth restrictions, etc...so it seems to be that it's an internal Verizon policy to not activity BB devices without a dataplan. I think all other carriers are okay with it. Anyhow...I cancelled my Verizon account and ported my number to my new BB Pearl on T-Mobile and everything has been perfect. Living in NYC, I've been loyal to Verizon for 10 years now, but I think GSM in NYC has finally caught up with CDMA in terms of call quality and signal coverage.

Posted by: meh2006

IF I had a unlocked 7100, put in a sim, set the APN settings to the same as the cell phone would the data parts work (not including push email and any BES stuff) I really just want to be able to pull email.

Posted by: hopetindall

No NO NO NO NO NO NO

Read this thread.

NO

;-)

PHT

Posted by: meh2006

I did read the thread. It goes yes and no.

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally Posted by meh2006

IF I had a unlocked 7100, put in a sim, set the APN settings to the same as the cell phone would the data parts work (not including push email and any BES stuff) I really just want to be able to pull email.

As I had responded to your post in the Rogers forum it will not work. You require a BlackBerry data plan for data connectivity.

Posted by: CSOKI Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcmullen

This was impossible to do with Verizon Blackberry's but as of recently it is...

Posted by: venomoussvt

I think alot of this differs from one provider to the next. I am the IT manager at my office and I do all the blackberry conversions/support for our employees here as well. I have set up approx 20 in the last 2 weeks and have had several that nextel "forgot" to add the data plan on. The first phone that this happened to I was puzzled as to why I could not activate it on the BES. I spent a week trying to figure out why the BES would not activate on this phone until I realized that the retard at nextel didnt add the data plan to the existing account when it was upgraded to a BB. My employee used his phone (other than the data features) for the entire week without a single problem. Phone worked great for him as well as his other "phone only" features.

On the note of swapping sim cards, this can be done as well with Nextel. However I hear "rumors" of possibly trying to track which sims are being used in unauthorized phones. (probably a bunch of BS though)

Posted by: mobilelite

it'll work...but there are phones out there that would be better for text messaging

Posted by: JR369

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

I am using one w/o a BB Data Plan. Bought the BB from Ebay

I have been reading the posts but I'm sooo confused but i think my question
may be a bit different.

I'm thinking about getting a BB pearl or a 7100 new for about 120.00 off ebay. I'm with cingular.
I have 3 questions:

1-if the BB is unlocked alreadly can i program the internet gateway to access on cingular

2-i have the LG CU500 with the 19.99 unlimited internet (so if i use a BB and not tell them will it work)?

3-Do the BB's use JAVA Apps i have Opera Mini which I'm guessing I don't need the special BB web for and the GMaill java app and i get my mail so easy i never have to enter my username or password everytime

Thanks in advance guys

Posted by: BlitzSix

1. no
2. no
3. no idea

Posted by: BillBennett

Anyone have a quick solution for clearing passwords in the Blackberry 7230 (or other later models)? I picked up several units and need to use a couple for voice and one for voice and data. They are currently loaded with the previous customers info.

Any help would be appreciated.

Posted by: Nas6034

So if i get Black Berry pearl..with out the BB plan can i still go on aim and use the internet from my service provider??...with out the BB plan..

Posted by: Bigmaxx2000

I don't know, but somehow I have the pearl for tmobile and my web browser works just fine. I browse the web full html pages, I just can't use my email, which is a bummer, but hey, for free I'm pretty happy with that.

Posted by: LUNDiS

i work for cingular. we are told by not only our store managers, but area managers, and corporate trainers, data phones are not allowed to be sold without data packages. you can always buy data phones elsewhere, and activate them on customer care. just dont expect a rep to tell soemone that in a store when they make big money on features!!

Posted by: MannyRios

Quote:

Originally Posted by ymarks

***UPDATE***
Actually- This works on and off. I'm not sure why. Anyone have any info?

Any info on this. I'm considering the BB Pearl from Cingular. I'm thinking of getting the deal off Amazon...w/the Data Plan...but then canceling the Data plan after a couple of weeks.

I would like to use Opera to access my GMail account...Sync w/my Mac (Address & iCal).

Is any of this possible? Thanks in advance.

Posted by: xspeedy

I think the question to ask is does the Blackberry support GPRS, the low speed data network.

Posted by: robertjp1

What if I cancel my 29.99 BB plan and sign up for cingulars 9.99 data plan (limited usage) ? Can I do that?

I only will use the internet occasionally so I really dont need an unlimited plan but at least I can still get on if I want to.

Posted by: fade2wo3lack

Ok this is 4 T-Mo ONLY!!! You can use the phone w/o the plan, but you cant access data, 2nd if you plan on signing up for a new contract and dont want the data plan then you pay 100 more for the phone, that is all, that pretty much clears everything up...

Posted by: LUNDiS

Quote:

Originally Posted by MannyRios

no data plan short of 29.99 will work with cingular data devices. those are for WAP based MEDIA NET services (hence MEdia works...MEdia basic...etc)

if you use opera, your using data, you need a data plan.

amazon screws people. i work in a corporate store, only been here for about a month, and ive fixed 3 amazon sales already. dont waste your time and money.

3rd party dealers ive found are also morons...half my day is fixing amazon, dealers, and customer care's screw ups. just go to a corporate store and pay for what your going to use. simple.

Posted by: dutsukyampu

cingular customers:
got off the phone with customer service today, ,and you do NOT need a blackberry data plan to use a blackberry device.
talked to a sales rep at a corporate cingular store and they said the same thing.

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutsukyampu

cingular customers:
got off the phone with customer service today, ,and you do NOT need a blackberry data plan to use a blackberry device.
talked to a sales rep at a corporate cingular store and they said the same thing.

For voice & sms you do not need a BlackBerry data plan. For wireless web and sending/receiving emails and/or pins you do require a BlackBerry data plan on Cingular.

Posted by: letsbeserious

to me even tough im not on the web all the time theres no other reason not to have a bb without data even tho cingular wants 30 a month for it so im a milk them downloads for what its wort

Posted by: dealpro

I currently use a Treo 650 on Cingular with an old $19.99 MediaNet Unlimited plan. Got a Pearl, popped in my SIM card and got a DATA CONNECTION REFUSED error.

I'm not sure yet whether I want to switch to the Pearl. Assuming I absolutely must add a BB data plan in order to be able to surf the web on my Pearl, can I still keep the MediaNet Unlimited plan while having the BB data plan on my account? I want to be able to go back and cancel the BB plan while still keeping my old data plan. Is that possible?

Posted by: LilCoop2

Well, I don't know that all the service providers work the same, but I can tell anyone from experience that particularly I got the 7100i to work under Nextel by simply putting my SIM card in there. Like almost everyone else is saying, it has super limited usage w/o the data plan. I was able to use the phone for phone calls and for some internet usage. Unfortunately, SMS & MMS messages would not get sent or received and it probably goes w/o saying that I could not sync any email (no matter what others are claiming!) nor use the GPS applications. But if you need a calculator, address book, calendar, etc. the those apps worked no prob

Eventually, I caved and added the unlimited data plan and my phone suddenly got populated with more icons and was actually useful. In my opinion, after having tried it myself, having a BlackBerry w/no data plan is more of a hassle than anything else. Just pay for the darned data plan or go back to your regular phone - It really is not that bad if you think about it! Choosing to use a BlackBerry w/o the added data plan, you are creating more problems for yourself than you are solving. But hey - who am I 2 argue with U if that's your thing!

Posted by: dencha

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilCoop2

Well, I don't know that all the service providers work the same, but I can tell anyone from experience that particularly I got the 7100i to work under Nextel by simply putting my SIM card in there. Like almost everyone else is saying, it has super limited usage w/o the data plan. I was able to use the phone for phone calls and for some internet usage. Unfortunately, SMS & MMS messages would not get sent or received and it probably goes w/o saying that I could not sync any email (no matter what others are claiming!) nor use the GPS applications. But if you need a calculator, address book, calendar, etc. the those apps worked no prob

hey i was planning to do the same thing...i wanted to get the 7100i for the bluetooth and push-to-talk capabilities....if i put in my yellow nextel sim card into the 7100i will the bluetooth and push-to-talk work?....i also would like to receive and send text messages....would it be possible to having text working with the 7100i if i got the text messaging plan?

Posted by: ajanthan23

just got my pearl on rogers wireless, worked great on a regular plan .. but its not a blackberry without a blackberry plan, so had to get it .. now it is a REAL BLACKBERRY lol

Posted by: robertjp1

Heres what happened to me. I had the BBdata paln, cancelled and got cingulars media net plan (mess and limited internet) It worked fine till I took the battery out and then when it connected with the network, it locked me out. I called cingular and theysaid it was not possible reactivate plan since I needed a BB plan to work properly. They tried to get it how it was but it wouldnt go. I had to order the bb plan again or no internet and no mms messages. This sucks, wish I know this before I bought the phone and I wouldnt of bought it. Cool phone but 30 bucks for limited internet is way too much for the amount of times Ill use it.

Posted by: audiphile

I'm sure this was covered 10x already, but I cannot find the exact answer..

I want to do the following:

1. buy Pearl off ebay
2. pop in my T-mobile SIM card
3. use phone to
a. make calls
b. send/receive SMS
c. send/receive MMS
d. browse internet using OPERA MINI
e. check e-mail with GMAIL's java client

Is all this possible WITHOUT the BB plan from T-mobile, with JUST MobileWeb $6/mo plan?

I currently do this on my other phones

TIA!

Posted by: robertjp1

It worked for me on Cingular till I took out the battery and it reconnected with the network to find out I cancelled my BB unlimited plan. Nothing would work except sms and phone. I had to resubscribe to bb to get everything to work. If I knew this before I bought it, I wouldnt of bought it. Beware.

Posted by: ajanthan23

yeah all of that worked for me on rogers, before i changed to the BBplan .. but never tried MMS

Posted by: VetVito

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertjp1

It worked for me on Cingular till I took out the battery and it reconnected with the network to find out I cancelled my BB unlimited plan. Nothing would work except sms and phone. I had to resubscribe to bb to get everything to work. If I knew this before I bought it, I wouldnt of bought it. Beware.

Sounds like your BlackBerry just deleted the service books.

Posted by: sherlock_06

I lead a team of techs for one of the telecomm and we even have seen some (a few)RIMS receiving emails without the DATA options. We also have seen RIMS not receiving some calls due to them not having those DATA options since the Blackberry always tries to access the network. Both cases are rare though.

Posted by: dmwgirl

I gave my dad(a i90c user) my old 7100i. He swapped SIM cards. All he wants to do is send and receive calls, which works fine - but a sim card read error is on the display. Is there a way to get this off?

Posted by: VetVito

Old sim card, the card is probably a 32k or some other old one. The phone will work as you say but other features may not work. Just go to the store and tell them you want to get a new sim.

Posted by: allenlikewo

people talking about not being able to get BB without data plan are wrong
of course sales person or sales based business such as retail may tell you this (or your managers lying to you about this) but its not correct

if i walk in your store and ask to buy a phone outright, no contact no commitment, just retail... are you saying you would tell me NO?

YOU DONT NEED A BLACKBERRY PLAN TO GET OR USE A BLACKBERRY

however, BB based services will not work without one

you can get data connection with wap plan, this is a fact, but your not supposed to. However, BB services still dont work, an that includes the built in browsers

also another thing to be cautious of, with CDMA (on VZW at least) data devices in general without data plans are very dangerous. Unless you specifically get a 1X block on your account. You might find some very unwanted data charges on your bill. VZW's systems will not let you provision any plan on a data device with out a data feature, and that means pay as you go if you dont want a plan. Now you can go in later and remove pay as you go, and add a block in its place... but this must be requested and some employess/teams/centers/etc... are actually told not to do this.

GSM risks are much lower

Posted by: jlcolingham

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

This is incorrect. I am doing it right now and T-Mobile set me up with a blackberry and no data plan. They asked if i wanted it, i said no. end of story. 3rd party companies have NO CHOICE but to add the plan because they purchase each phone with a contract of what they will add to it. i know that with GSM it is easy to replicate this as described with the sim/unlocked phone but one thing most dont realize is that phone providers only have a vague reference to the phone you are using and if it isnt in their sold phones list, they have no idea and often falsely associate it with the wrong phone.

Posted by: jlcolingham

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiphile

I'm sure this was covered 10x already, but I cannot find the exact answer..

I want to do the following:

1. buy Pearl off ebay
2. pop in my T-mobile SIM card
3. use phone to
a. make calls
b. send/receive SMS
c. send/receive MMS
d. browse internet using OPERA MINI
e. check e-mail with GMAIL's java client

Is all this possible WITHOUT the BB plan from T-mobile, with JUST MobileWeb $6/mo plan?

I currently do this on my other phones

TIA!

The answer is NO, tmobile restricts you to SMS and phone ONLY when you have no BB plan. i spent almost two hours with tmobile and blackberry support to figure out how i could use MMS without a bbplan even though i already pay for it and the answer is I cannot. I pulled some strings and worked the system to get bb support and tried to identify how we can use a system proxy to by pass the bb plan to use mms but the technician said that unless tmobile unlocks you to access the data network the phone cannot use the services. which makes me mad. i would like my phone to be able to mms without the plan especially when I am already paying for it.

Posted by: Moderator HF 7

With a GSM Provider all you need to do is put your sim card into the BlackBerry and you're set. You can use the device for voice, sms & its PIM functions. I have never been a customer of a CDMA provider but I have heard that CDMA providers require a BlackBerry data plan before they either activate a new account where the customer chooses a BlackBerry or do an ESN swap for a customer who wants to switch to a BlackBerry. I don't know how true this is but people I know who are with a CDMA provider have all been told they cannot use a BlackBerry without a data plan and the ones that were able to get an ESN swap done to a BlackBerry without a data plan had a data plan automatically put onto their account a month or two later.

Posted by: jlcolingham

in addition to the reply stating that the BB data plan is the only way, the reasoning is that the port used on the blackberry to access webservices will only work through the blackberry server at your service provider and services including MMS, video messaging, email, web, and more (but not including calls and sms) are only accessible through the server. If you do not have the BB plan, the server will not allow you to access it and you will not have any of that functionality even if you pay for a t-mobile web or the unlimited messaging plan (save for the sms)

Posted by: ajanthan23

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlcolingham

in addition to the reply stating that the BB data plan is the only way, the reasoning is that the port used on the blackberry to access webservices will only work through the blackberry server at your service provider and services including MMS, video messaging, email, web, and more (but not including calls and sms) are only accessible through the server. If you do not have the BB plan, the server will not allow you to access it and you will not have any of that functionality even if you pay for a t-mobile web or the unlimited messaging plan (save for the sms)

well actually u can use the internet on the blackberry pearl. just download a third party browser such as OperaMini (which works for me) but you do need a wap plan, or else your bill will be pretty high (learnt my lesson)

ciao,
ajanthan

Posted by: ruckussbp

so are you using a wap plan? bc i have tmo web, but data connection is refusing on my 7105t...any ideas? thanks

Posted by: allenlikewo

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruckussbp

so are you using a wap plan? bc i have tmo web, but data connection is refusing on my 7105t...any ideas? thanks

the wap plan will work for internet access, just not through the blackberry's wap/internet/mds browser. as stated before you can use a 3rd party browser such as opera mini or minuet and it will work fine. Sometimes, depending on the software and possibly network you have to set your tcp apn manually for it to work.

the data connection refused message at the top of your screen you will have to live with.

If there is no gprs provsioning at all in your subscriber profile, you will not get gprs attach (no sgsn) and your device will sit happily on GSM and give you no DCR message. If there is any kind of gprs provisioning then you do get gprs attach and therefore your device will try to get blackberry pdp context, you cannot stop this as the device has say in what kind of context it tries to get (and blackberrys always go for blackberry). of course, with no blackberry plan the request gets a big phat NO, and you see the nice DCR on top of your screen (and a lowercase gprs indicator, and an unpopulated host routing table, etc...). However, other apps trying to pull a wap IP, will get one, and will work.... so may be anoying but no stoppng you from getting data.

if im wrong, and theres a way around the anoying message, please share. but i dont think there is

Posted by: laddaally

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajanthan23

Im a little new to BB and services so i may sound a little newbie, but what is a WAP plan? do i just call my service provider and ask them for it? I don't have any BB data plan with them but would like to access the internet. and when i use Opera mini browser am i getting charged from my service provider like a pay as you go rate by KB used? thanks

Posted by: allenlikewo

a wap plan is a plan that gives you provisioning to your carrier's wap gateway
wap plans are typically used on non data devices, like v3 and nokias n shuch, and therefore are the least expensive plans that wireless carriers offer

cingular calls it MEdiaNet
tmo calls it t-zones
etc...

as far as asking your provider for it... they may push back if you have a BB on your account because BB is supposed to have BB plan. they will also most defiantnly tell you it wont work. if you want to go this route, just tell them you dont access data on your BB and that you want the wap plan on there to use when you put your SIM in your other cell phone

Posted by: hillstrubl

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenlikewo

a wap plan is a plan that gives you provisioning to your carrier's wap gateway
wap plans are typically used on non data devices, like v3 and nokias n shuch, and therefore are the least expensive plans that wireless carriers offer

cingular calls it MEdiaNet
tmo calls it t-zones
...............

not to be a stickler or vernacular-nazi but Tmo calls it t-mobile web now, t-zones has flown the coop

Posted by: allenlikewo

thanks for telling me, i didnt know
it was t-zones back when i supported it

Posted by: ruckussbp

thanks for the info...i'll try opera and see what happens

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenlikewo

Posted by: derekyeu

I had a Tmobile Pearl. I only have TmobileWeb. No Email of course. But Opera mini and Google Map work fine in SoCal area.

Posted by: ruckussbp

maybe i need to add opera to get my t mo web workin bc i have the samsung t 209 and my internet works fine but data connection is refused on my 7105 t

Posted by: allenlikewo

yeah, install opera
set your tcp apn to wap.voicestream.com
reset
browse

Posted by: jules

I can confirm this works with a Rogers unlocked pearl on the fido network..no bb plan, but I can use Opera mini to check e-mail and surf...
I used internet.fido.ca for the APN.

Posted by: laddaally

Well i called cingular to activate my wap plan and so they did! it didnt work in the begining so i turned my pearl off then back on! All of the sudden i have a BB browser and all these apps i didnt have before. So called Cingular back up and ask them what exactly was my plan they told me my plan and said nothing about a BB data plan. So i ask the CSR if i had a BB data plan and her answer was "NO" But i can activate a plan in the future if i changed my mind! I said no i just wanna use the phone for SMS message and Voice plan WTH? am i getting this for free or by mistake? And if i use the BB browser am i getting charged for data everytime i use?

Posted by: allenlikewo

hmmm...
if you got browser icons then youve connected to the RIM network at least at some point, means that your account was provisoined with blackberry plan at some point

if the plan was removed, and the provisioning removed along with it, i would suspect that the browser will not fucntion

if it does fucntion, then you still have provisioning
means the feature change could be hung in the switch or someting. or the rep lied to you

but at any rate, there is no cingular blackberry pay per use feature, and once a blackberry plan is taken off your account the info is relayed to the rim network and the services accosiated with your pin are deactivated

so if there is truley no blackberry plan on your account then it should not be fucntional
if it is fucntional, then the provisioning is still there so i would suspect that the blackberry plan is there as well

if it is non-fuctional, just go clear out your service book (options > advanced > service book) and they will go away

sorry no free blackberry service

Posted by: hillstrubl

yeah i agree... if the blackberry browser is there my gut says so is a blackberry plan.

now if its ONLY a Cingular wap browser you're good

Posted by: allenlikewo

nah, thats not true, wouldnt have a cingular/medianet browser without blackberry plan either
both appear after registering on rim network and service book being populated

Posted by: dealpro

Just installed Opera Mini on my Cingular Pearl, and it's working great with no BB plan, just the Cingular MediaNet unlimited plan. There's just one issue that I run into. Whenevr I'm trying to download a file, Opera Mini is trying to open the Cingular Browser, which doesn't work for lack of the service book.

An example would be trying to install GMAIL app byt going to this link:

http://www.gmail.com/app/v1.1.0/L1/...y-8100_v4_0.jad

Anyone knows of any other way to launch and install a .jad file?

Thanks in advance!

Posted by: allenlikewo

yeah
its a little bit of a task but it works fine
here you go :
http://www.blackberryforums.com/aft...ant-do-ota.html

Posted by: dealpro

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenlikewo

yeah
its a little bit of a task but it works fine
here you go :
http://www.blackberryforums.com/aft...ant-do-ota.html

Thanks! I actually tried it last night and it worked, but it's a real PITA, hehe.

Wonder why Opera Mini won't allow OTA installs... Is there any other 3rd party browser that does it? Or is that not a browser limitation?

Posted by: allenlikewo

theres not really that many 3rd party browsers
plus the whole ota thing is something that is intergrated in to blackberry pretty tight
wouldnt really expect it to work in a 3rd party browser

Posted by: jules

It has nothing to do with Opera mini..it's the same thing on Symbian Os60v3..the OS takes over and shuts down Opera and opens the internal browser for OTA downloads..it's the OS doing it...

Posted by: dlawer

Hi, I just installed opera mini for blackberry on my bb 7280 on rogers. When opera mini does the program start up it comes up with this error "The application operette $2dhifi has attempted to open a connection to a location inside the firewall and outside the firewall, which is not allowed by your IT policy". Any glues in how to fix this problem. I am using the apn-internet.com username-wapuser1 password-wap. Thanks.

Posted by: shinichi

sorry if this question has been answered before.

Is it possible to sync your outlook email offline to blackberry without using BB data plan or BES.
I don't plan of using it real time, just one way sync from outlook client to blackberry. (Just like PPC)

Thanks.

Posted by: allenlikewo

dlawer : this is pretty common issue. my first question is, has this device ever been on a BES and is there an IT policy on it. can check by going to options > security > general and look under services. if so i would only assume you are not actually on a BES (or would have BB plan) so you need to get that removed. If there is no IT policy then it is being caused by another issue... to put it simply, the fix is to reload your OS (choosing to erase all apps), set your tcp, hard reset, then rein