Using a Blackberry without the Blackberry features - Possible?

[tigerwolf]

...
I cant keep track of all the nonoptions I have.

I love that!

Okay, on the Blackberry site, it says Blackberry Desktop has support for:
Organizer Support

* IBM Lotus Notes 6, 6.5, 7, 8
* Microsoft Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007
* Microsoft Outlook Express 6, Microsoft Windows Contacts (Vista Address Book)
* Novell® GroupWise® 6.5, 7.0
* Yahoo!® PIM

[slimjimlim]

I have a BB Bold and I have wi-fi only with no data. How or can I install applications without borrowing somebody else's sim card?

[PAC-MAN]

Did this work for you? When I was testing BB on our network without any BES/BIS service it wouldn't do anything without defined settings in TCP/IP in Options--->Advanced Options ... What is your carrier?

[PAC-MAN]

But like a sales guy working for us says. "Buying a BlackBerry without data is like buying a convertible and welding the top shut!"

[PAC-MAN]

If you use their SIM that was in their BlackBerry you may very well mess up their BlackBerry service. I wouldn't do it man. Just get the plan or get a WI-FI phone if you aren't interested in the data plan.

[tigerwolf]

But like a sales guy working for us says. "Buying a BlackBerry without data is like buying a convertible and welding the top shut!"

Perhaps so, except you don't pay a monthly fee to use the top, and the car would still function as a car

[PAC-MAN]

But why did you buy it if you didn't want to take the top off?

[hcooke]

You won't be able to load apps from the BB site w/out a plan but might be able to load 3rd party apps via USB, wifi, or bluetooth, whichever your BB supports.

[tigerwolf]

But why did you buy it if you didn't want to take the top off?

In that example the equivalent would be if the only cars sold were convertibles, but you didn't want to use the convertible part, just use it as a car. You're buying it not because it's a convertible, but because you need a car.

[PETERPNYC]

In that example the equivalent would be if the only cars sold were convertibles, but you didn't want to use the convertible part, just use it as a car. You're buying it not because it's a convertible, but because you need a car.

BRAVO And if that car had had every other option and look you wanted , that was not available in any other car

[PAC-MAN]

Have any of these crippled car buyers just considered using a crippled phone (Windows Mobile)? RIM devices need to be activated on RIM services to function like they were intended. To own a car with out working convertible top would just do it injustice and I would look at getting it fixed. After all you may be able to do a trade in with someone who is looking to have the wind blowing their their hair.

[tigerwolf]

Same deal with any of these platforms though-they're mostly or entirely just in phones. Even the iPod touch is crippled compared to the iPhone in many ways, although the second generation versions of both the CPU ran 100MHz faster on the iPod. Not sure if that's still the case with the third gen models. (Not even sure anyone's said how fast the third gen iPhone runs...the 600MHz figure that's been thrown around is almost certainly incorrect, and may refect a max clock rate that isn't used, and possibly also a speed they were aiming at before.)

[anarethos]

Ok. My question may have be answered, but it is really hard to find an answer in 37 pages...

I am currently with Rogers Wireless (Canada) and I have a regular Data plan (so, I can use my phone as a modem - 500mb per month). I would like to swith to a BB device, but I don't want to switch to the BB service (more expensive with less data). In that case, since I will not have the BB Internet Service to PUSH my may to my device and I don't have a BIS server at home, is there any way to use the BB to PULL pop-3 email?

Basically, is there anyway to use email on a BB withou using the BIS/BES server or I must use a different device? (thinking of the iPhone or the Nokia ExpressMusic 5800)


Thanks!

[PAC-MAN]

NO.... not unless it is working on wifi.. You can put a gmail APP on it. Good luck.

[dembidj]

AT&T has changed their policy on data plans and "Smartphones" including Blackberries. A data plan is required on all new smartphones and all new plans that include a smartphone.

I have a Pearl and am "grandfathered" in so I am not forced to buy a plan right now. My phone is broken, but I've managed to use it anyway. If I buy a new one through AT&T I will have to buy the data plan.

If I buy a phone from someone else and put my sim card in and AT&T finds out about it they reserve the right, and according to the customer service they _will_ add the data plan without my consent.

Our plan is up for renewal this month. If I wanted to upgrade and extend my contract I would be forced to buy the plan plus the data package. If we wanted to simply extend our contract by the year I would have to buy the data plan.

Anybody recommend another carrier? Now I have to go back and read all these posts to figure out what I'm gonna do!