I am in the market to get a BB Pearl, but I am a bit confused at all of the service plan options. The different primary plans are pretty straight forward, but I am a bit confused by the plan add-ons for the BB. I have been searching this forum and others looking for some guidance, but have not had much luck.

I will primarily be using the Pearl for cell phone, personal email (not corporate email), some web browsing, PIM, and possible GPS. I am located in the US and have used several service providers (AT&T/Cingular, T-Mobile, Verison, and Sprint) and with the exception of Sprint I have had about equal success rate when it comes to reception so I am open to any non-Sprint carrier. What I don't have is experience with BB on these service provider networks. This will be my first BB or smart phone of any kind, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

On any... you will need the BlackBerry Data Plan.

On Tmo it is cheapest, $19.99/month.

Welcome to the group... Most BB plans are the basic voice plans with the added on data plan, which most carriers now have the unlimited for $29.99. Pick the carrier that gives you the best coverage, that's the most important point in my opinion.

Wirelessly posted (from the best device ever.)

Coverage = Verizon
Cost = T-Mobile

ATT will give you MMS and GPS with your pearl, as well as good coverage!

Verizon doesn't have GPS, and Sprint doesn't have MMS. Not sure about the tmobile though

Definately go with coverage first - the best phone and the best price will be worthless if you can't use the device.

depends on who has the best coverage in your area. if the coverage is bad then what do you have?

Check the coverage with friends where you spend most of your time. Home and work, i guess/

T-Mobile's BB Data Add on give you web, bb messanger, etc but no MMS included...that's included in your text package if you have one.

Wirelessly posted (8320 Curve)

You can add MMS for free I heard. You will need to call them. I am unsure of this though as the apparently just changed something in their system with MMS / SMS.

Either way, take the best coverage. Sprints Sero plans are great. Unlim text and data and 500 minutes for just under 50. That price includes taxes

I truly dislike Verizon (which is about to deflower Alltel) and am not overly fond of Sprint.

I have the family on AT&T and like them well enough to stay there.

My wife has an 8100, I have an 8110 and will be switching to a 9000.

This is incorrect. GPS is not a feature of your service provider, but a feature of the phone. If the phone has a GPS in it, it doesnt matter who your provider is, the GPS works (except with Verizon, who have disabled the GPS and charge you a monthly fee to use what already comes with the phone. Other providers do not do this and leave the phones 100% functional out of the box).

ATT, Tmo, Suncom, alltel, etc etc all have working GPS enabled phones. With verizon you must pay extra.

First thanks everybody for your input!

In regards to the GPS, I agree that it is a function of the phone, but in regards to T-Mobile I was under the impression that the 8120 pearl that they offer has WiFi and no GPS whereas the 8110 from AT&T and Verizon has the GPS and no WiFi. Based on the responses and the costs I am leaning toward AT&T or T-Mobile. But I think I would use GPS more than I would WiFi and if my understanding of the T-Mobile offering is correct, than I will probably go with AT&T. If anyone has information that contradicts this please let me know.

Thanks again!

You can always get an external bluetooth GPS unit. Personally I don't like the fact that my 8120 doesn't have GPS built-in but I still love the WiFi/UMA though. Having the ability to tap into my Wireless network and make calls and receive/send data over it in my house is awesome because my house is a dead zone.

In reality I already had Tmobile when I got my 8120 but you can look at it this way, you're basically throwing away $10+ (Can't remember how much BIS is on AT&T) more dollars every month if you go with AT&T. AT&T has great coverage so I've heard but I've never really had a problem with Tmobile in my area or anywhere where I travel.

I'm not trying to persuade you to go with Tmobile but I thought I'd share my experience with the phone and carrier. Its up to you to make the decision. Good luck!

P.S. If you do go with Tmobile I'll make a recommendation. Call them up and work with them over the phone. They will give you a better deal than the store would be able to.

no its actually correct... you cant use gps you are wrong I am right

GPS works with alltel, for free.

Alltel is good, except you cant send or recive MMS

Seriously... do you have any idea what you're talking about or do you just make this stuff up as you see fit?

$9.99 a month magically adds GPS to verizon blackberrys. vzNavigator... if you open vznavigator you can then switch to any other software that needs or wants access to the GPS antenna...

chew on that