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Give me back my RAZR!
My company has provided cell phones for me. They are now "getting out of the cell phone business", and will not be providing company phones for anyone any longer (although they will be reimbursing).
I can keep my current hardware if I can use it. It's a Sprint Blackberry without a camera (no camera is a necessity for my job). I do NOT want to enter into a contract with Sprint, particularly since I have my own hardware.
I've been researching, but it's somewhat daunting. Is there a provider where I can "bring my own phone" and get Blackberry service (i.e., voice, data, texts)? Ideally, across the FULL Sprint network (inclusing roaming partners) with no roaming charges?
If it matters, I'm not against porting my number to Google Voice and forwarding from there. As a matter of fact, I can see that there would be advantages in that regardless.
Please feel free to correct me if I'm not asking the right questions.
Thanks in advance!
I've climbed a cellphone tower
platinumtel is an MVNO that runs on the Sprint network and can accommodate bring-your-own in certain cases. You do better dealing with master dealers instead of their website. One master dealer that seems to be very helpful is acrs, and you may find others in the marketplace section here on HoFo.Originally Posted by IntrepidTravelr
Search this forum, General Prepaid, for threads about platinumtel. You may have to search back more than year.
Good luck.
I've climbed a cellphone tower
The only Sprint MVNO that offers roaming coverage seems to be TIng. And they don't let you bring your own phone.
Among the companies that don't let you bring your own phone, I've never seen one selling a non-camera smartphone. However you can usually take a phone apart and remove the camera module(*). The other functions will still work but when the camera button is pressed it will give a camera error and of course not be able to take any photos.
(*) voiding the warranty of course, so confirm that someone else has successfully done this with your particular model first.
Give me back my RAZR!
Unfortunately, Security doesn't accept a physically disabled phone in a camera (even if disabled with a drill bit or JB Weld). The phone has to come from the factory without a camera.
This is frustrating! I like the pay-as-you-go model, or, more generally, the no-contract model, but I can't seem to find what I need.
Radiation is good
Your best bet will probably be Page Plus. There are a number of non-camera blackberries for Verizon listed on eBay for pretty reasonable prices. You will have to install modified service books to get data to work but it is not hard to do. You will need a cable but the files you need are readily available and the blackberry software is readily available.
My screen is bigger than yours
Hm.. you are with one of those companies that highly values "information security"..
One thing to note is that there are very few "prepaid" companies that offer full Blackberry services (BIS). Only one I know of is tmobile and Virgin mobile, but it has been a while, so I maybe wrong...
There is a difference between blackberry service (BIS) and data service. If you need to keep BIS, I would look into getting a rerufb or used tmobile blackberry without camers (old 8800, os subsequent models). If BIS does not matter, and all you want is just data (Text and voice will be no problem) and want to keep the phone you have, there is a platinumtel dealer who says he can move your phone to PBL list, and provide service for you.. I would go with him, and get the service... One thing to note is that the phone cannot ever comback to Sprint (proper) service..
A company named "Zapp Unlimited" offered full BYOD on sprint phones, but I lost faith in them, and will not recommend to anybody..
But, if your company will be reimbursing for the service, I believe they will cover your actual cost, including hardware, not a fixed amount.. Why not just go with a postpaid provider and get the phone and service you like?
My screen is bigger than yours
BTW, no Sprint MVNO's offer any roaming.. so you should know...
If you are bring in your own device, I don't think there is a reason for Sprint to hold you with a contract.. You should be able to go month to month postpaid... Maybe the guys in your local store might not know, but someone @ Sprint should know..
I've climbed a cellphone tower
Ting doesn't have roaming now? They were supposed to, though just for talk and text. No data while roaming.
I think Sprint postpaid is unique in that they make you sign a contract even if you bring your own phone. Which makes no sense except that they are desperate to get the numbers up, lines under contract are viewed more highly by investors than those that aren't. If you go postpaid might as well get a new phone and sell it, or keep it for a spare.
Radiation is good
Both Ting and PrePayd have voice and text roaming (not data). I have recently checked with both of them and got and affirmative on this count.
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