Data plan for both HTC Fuze and Blackberry Bold

[Kodok]

Hi,

I tried the search function, but it kept giving me an error. Basically I have a question regarding AT&T Data Plan. I have HTC Fuze with grandfathered 'unlimited' PDA data plan + tethering. Recently I just got a hold of myself a Blackberry Bold. If I understand correctly from searching outside HF, I want to use BIS (Blackberry Internet Service), I have to sign up for Blackberry Data Plan and can't use PDA Data Plan. If I convert my PDA Data Plan + Tethering to Blackberry Data Plan + Tethering, can I still use my Fuze for ActiveSync, browsing, and tethering ? The CSR that I talked this morning said I'm not able to do so.

I'm just wondering if anyone is in the same situation as I am right now. Basically want to use Fuze and Bold with the same SIM card.

Thank you.

[Stea1th]

You can use BIS on the fuze but PDA connect will not work with a blackbbery.

[Kodok]

Stea1th, I don't plan to use Blackberry Connect for my Fuze, but my question is if I convert to AT&T Blackberry Personal + Tethering Plan, can I still use my Fuze for ActiveSync, browsing, and tethering ?

Thanks.

[newyork4me]

Stea1th, I don't plan to use Blackberry Connect for my Fuze, but my question is if I convert to AT&T Blackberry Personal + Tethering Plan, can I still use my Fuze for ActiveSync, browsing, and tethering ?

Thanks.

You certainly can!

[efparri]

Stea1th, I don't plan to use Blackberry Connect for my Fuze, but my question is if I convert to AT&T Blackberry Personal + Tethering Plan, can I still use my Fuze for ActiveSync, browsing, and tethering ?

Thanks.

Be advised That any BlackBerry data plan with tethering you purchase now will have a five gigabyte cap. Only your existing PDA data plan is unlimited. Once you switch to something else, you lose unlimited tethering. You will not reacquire unlimited tethering when you switch back. If unlimited tehering is important to you, you might want to reconsider your plans.

[Kodok]

Thanks for the reply guys. I definitely need to consider that though 5GB is big enough for occassional tethering.

Thanks again.

[RF9]

Kodok,
I think the reason you got that response from CS, is that AT&T seems unable to deal with more than one phone using the same data plan, even though in most cases it's technically possible.

They have a "PDA Enterprise plus Tethering Add-on for BlackBerry Connect, Good & Microsoft Direct Push" plan (Translation BES + Tethering for use on a windows mobile PDA like the Fuze.)
This is the IDENTICAL thing to "BlackBerry Enterprise plus Tethering Add-on" (Translation BES + Tethering).
They're the same exact identical thing with a different name. They even have the same price. But to CS, one is allowed to be used on (and is for) the WM PDA with BB Connect software. The other for use in an actual BB. Even though, it's the exact same data plan and totally interchangeable.

For whatever reason, they do NOT have a "PDA Personal plus Tethering Add-on for BlackBerry Connect, Good & Microsoft Direct Push"
Obviously what you want (BIS + Tethering) is exactly this and will work.

It's all just a bunch of technicalities. My whole point is that since there isn't a specific data plan feature that explicitly tells CS that you can use it in a WM PDA, they say "no" even though for all intents and purposes, it's completely designed to support this.

If you asked this same question on AT&T's forums, the moderator (AT&T rep) would jump in and say it's forbidden sticking with the corporate line. It drives me nuts frankly.

Here are those data plans I'm talking about:
http://www.wireless.att.com/business...comp-table.jsp

For that matter, any data plan over $60 essentially gives you carte-blanch to use that data plan in any device you like including a laptop card, or use it for tethering alike. The purpose of the 5GB limit really is so AT&T can say "We don't care what you do with it, you're just limited to 5GB." Whereas phone/smart phone plans that are 'unlimited'...well the obviously do care what you're doing with it because it's unlimited.

So all you really need to make sure of is that whatever data plan you get technically will support what you want to do. As has already been answered, BIS+Tethering in fact does.

So... The APNs (access point names provisioned with the different data plans is this...)
BB Plans with tethering: blackberry.net, wap.cingular, isp.cingular.
BB Plans without tethering: blackberry.net, wap.cingular
Non BB plans with tethering: wap.cingular, isp.cingular
Non BB plans without tethering: wap.cingular only

blackberry.net - Allows you to connect to BES or BIS (BB personal = BIS, BB Enterprise = BES + BIS)
wap.cingular - Used for PDAs, smartphones, iPhones, and all other phones for "phone data."
isp.cingular - Used for tethering and laptop cards.

So as you can see, BB plans are super set of non BB plans. So BB+Tethering gives you basically everything you'll ever need (except BES obviously.)

Sorry so long winded. I had caffeine today (after being clean for about a month now.)
I just wanted to over explain what's going on here for the benefit of educating all.

If I'm incorrect here on something. Please, by all means someone correct me.

It's a pretty common question. I think I'll sticky it for now until I can clean up the giant sticky data plan thread and roll this info in.

[Kodok]

RF9,

That's a really great description. Thank you so much for explaining into the details.

That's what I'm thinking as well, but since I have never had a BB before (this is my first), I only deal with wap.cingular and isp.cingular APNs for most of the time. Thanks again for the detail info. I think whenever I'm ready to use the BB full time, I will definitely switch to BB Data Plan so I can utilize the BIS.

[Kodok]

RF9, I have another question about taking the BlackBerry out of the country and use other provider SIM Card besides AT&T. From this website: http://www.valuesphere.com/intouchsm...rance_sfr.html, it claims that I can use France SFR SIM Card to use with the BlackBerry to check e-mails. I wonder how does it work since my BIS is through AT&T ?

Thanks.

[efparri]

RF9, I have another question about taking the BlackBerry out of the country and use other provider SIM Card besides AT&T. From this website: http://www.valuesphere.com/intouchsm...rance_sfr.html, it claims that I can use France SFR SIM Card to use with the BlackBerry to check e-mails. I wonder how does it work since my BIS is through AT&T ?

Thanks.

Apparently a specific BlackBerry device will connect to the correct account on the RIM servers regardless of the carrier used. The BlackBerry email option has a daily fee of $0.50 plus the cost per megabyte of data transferred.

[Demonteverde]

RF9's #7 post pretty much nailed down what the ATT apn's do. Great explanation, RF9.

Since you have a grandfathered 'unlimited' PDA data plan + tethering, I would definately try to keep this plan as once yo make the switch to a Blackberry tethering plan ($60 bucks, 5GB limit) there will be no way to get that old plan back. If you don't care about the limit by all means switch over. If you do...I'd hold on to that old plan.

But to answer your question:

"If I convert my PDA Data Plan + Tethering to Blackberry Data Plan + Tethering, can I still use my Fuze for ActiveSync, browsing, and tethering ?"

Yes. The only difference the Blackberry tethering plan will give you is the blackberry.net APN network provisioning which allows a blackbery phone to connect to the blackberry network. The blackberry tethering plan doesn't hinder any functions of any PDA. Windows mobile phones will work normal with a blackberry data plan.