Hi,

I was just given an 8700g blackberry for t-mobile. My daughter has been using an unlocked iphone 3g on the t-mobile $9.99 data plan for the past year. She has complete access to the internet, email sync to her laptop and gps (and more). I was hoping to get this same service for this new blackberry. When I spoke to t-mobile a few minutes ago, they told me that I needed to be on the $24.99 plan because a BB is a full pda device and the iphone wasn't. My daughter's phone seems like it could do just about anything...I can't imagine that the BB has more capabilities. Is there a way to make this new BB work on the t-mobile $9.99 data plan?

Thanks

Yes the Tmobile $9.99 data plan will work on BlackBerries but whether or not Tmobile will let you do so in place of the BlackBerry Data plan (aka BIS) is another question. Note that if you are able to use the generic plan, you won't have access to some of the BlackBerry features such as BlackBerry messenger, push email, etc.

As far as I know, the iPhone on AT&T's data is nothing special just a data plan for iPhone users. Don't think you get "extras" like you do with the BlackBerry one, though I could be wrong.

Yes, it should.

TMobile is just looking to make an extra couple of bucks ;).

Well some might say the whole point of a BlackBerry is to use it as it was designed. Their BIS plan helps in that. Besides, Tmobile still has the least expensive BB data plan of major carriers.

I'd like to be able to send/recieve emails and maybe access the internet, but I'm sure it'll be a while before I can fully appreciate the BB experience.

Does t-mobile have to know what type of phone I'm using on their $9.99 plan? Do I need to coordinate the phone with the service through t-mobile?

No. I haven't twittered, yet, but I'm willing to learn.


Thanks

Hahaha the Twitter is part of my signature and not a question. But thanks for letting me know.

What phone did you have prior to the 8700G? I'm assuming you've been with Tmobile for a while now.

Note that with a regular data plan you wont be able to use the built in email service of the BlackBerry. Aside from webmail, the best you could do is to use something like the Gmail app should your email be Gmail. But being notified of emails as they arrive is a feature of BIS and push email.

A quick read of the FAQ would have provided the following bits of information to answer most of your questions:

How to use BlackBerry on Generic Data Plan - BlackBerryFAQ

What do I need a Data Plan for? - BlackBerryFAQ

Thanks.

This is the first time I've used this or any forum. I'll check the FAQ next time.

This FAQ is a particularly good one. All the topics are clearly written and to the point. I'd tell folks to throw out their manual and print this forum's FAQ instead.